PREP VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: Snohomish secures district playoff spot

Published 11:49 pm Thursday, October 22, 2009

EVERETT — The first half of the season was rough on the Snohomish Panthers volleyball team. There were a lot of losses and a lot of discouraged young ladies.

Those memories are long gone for a surging Panthers team.

Snohomish defeated Everett 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21) in a key Wesco North match Thursday night.

“This week was huge for us,” Snohomish coach Kris Jones said.

Before the week started, Jones said she told the team how important the week was going to be and how “it’s going to make or break our playoff chances.”

Turns out she was right, wins over Stanwood and Everett (4-2 league, 7-5 overall) clinched a 4A district 1 playoff berth for the Panthers (4-2, 5-6).

Jones said that the first half of the season was tough on the Panthers, despite the fact that those matches didn’t count.

“We just kept losing, even though they weren’t counting, they were pecking away in confidence,” Jones said. “Confidence is a big deal when you’re young.”

But as the matches started to count and the wins started to come, the confidence started to build.

Panthers’ sophomore right side hitter Cierra Short was praised by Jones for her effort against the Seagulls.

“She had a really nice hitting percentage,” Jones said of Short after the match.

Shelby Short had 37 assists and 15 digs and Maddi Fonts added 16 kills for the Panthers.

Emily Liger had 23 kills, five blocks and 19 digs, Mackenzie Banta had 22 assists, Molly Burton had six kills and six blocks and Jody Barhanovich had 22 digs for Everett.

Snohomish’s successful second half of the season has the Panthers looking forward to their opportunity in the playoffs.

“If you were to ask me earlier there wasn’t much hope there, it was pretty glum,” Jones said.

Now, an excited Jones says, “I’m pretty optimistic.”

Lake Stevens 3, Arlington 0: At Arlington, Lake Stevens (10-3-1 league and overall) defeated Arlington (4-11-0, 4-11-0) in Wesco North action by scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-18. Miranda Shultz had 12 kills, Brooke Larsen had 10 kills and Marchelle Bostic had seven kills and 15 assists for Lake Stevens. Kenzie Jorgenson had six kills, Megan Abdo had 14 assists and Kirstin Wright had 16 digs for Arlington.

Monroe 3, Stanwood 2: At Stanwood, Megan Birch had 28 kills and 17 digs for Monroe in a 25-19, 25-27, 23-25, 25-19, 15-5 Wesco North win. Kendal Munoz had 37 assists for the Bearcats (6-0 league, 11-1 overall). Sarah Titus had 28 digs and Kaci Jones had 12 kills and 19 assists for Stanwood (1-5, 5-7).

Marysville-Pilchuck 3, Cascade 0: At Marysville, the Tomahawks won the Wesco North match in straight sets 25-23, 25-16, 25-16 behind Mikayla LaRosa’s 11 kills, Riley Taitingfong’s 41 assists and three aces and Kate Vavrousek’s seven kills to remain undefeated at 7-0 in league, 8-0 overall. The Bruins’ Esther No had six digs and Danielle Love had five kills to lead Cascade (2-5, 2-10).

Glacier Peak 3, Mariner 0: At Snohomish, Olivia VanDlac contributed nine kills, Carli Kent added six more kills and Taylor Rasmussen had 13 digs for Glacier Peak (2-5 in league, 3-9 overall) in the Grizzlies’ 25-15, 25-17, 25-22 Wesco South win. Nicole Leach had seven kills and seven digs, Anny Bui added seven kills and eight digs and Katelyn Kelly had 22 digs for Mariner (0-7, 0-12).

Meadowdale 3, Mountlake Terrace 1: At Mountlake Terrace, Lindsey Milner had 16 kills, 12 digs and four aces to lead Meadowdale to a 25-23, 24-26, 25-20, 25-15 Wesco South win. Setter Megan Nelson had 36 assists and 15 digs, Alexa Cannon had 10 kills, four blocks and was 17-for-17 serving and senior Jessica Yi had 22 digs for the Mavericks (6-1 league, 9-3 overall). Chrysandra Dresser had 37 assists, Stephanie McGee had 31 digs and Sara Drew had 12 kills for Mountlake Terrace (4-3, 5-7).

Shorecrest 3, Shorewood 0: At Shoreline, Shorecrest (4-3 league, 6-6 overall) defeated Shorewood (1-6, 3-9) in a Wesco South match by scores of 27-25, 25-17 and 25-22. Casey Axelson had 29 assists and 13 digs, Lauren Schilperoort had eight kills and 13 digs, Elisa Ahern had eight kills and four blocks, Marina Stoermer had nine kills, Nicole Swenson had eight kills and Kelley Bayern had 17 digs for Shorecrest. Carolyn Stransky had 22 assists, Dana Brindle had six kills and 12 digs, Madison Walsh had nine kills, Laura Poster had 19 digs and Stephanie Goei had four blocks for Shorewood.

Edmonds-Woodway 3, Lynnwood 0: At Lynnwood, Edmonds-Woodway (5-2 league, 9-3 overall) defeated Lynnwood (1-6, 6-6) in Wesco South action by scores of 25-23, 25-14 and 25-13. Hannah Lauber had eight kills, Haley Scott had eight kills and four aces and Miah Diirell had five kills, six aces and 10 digs for Edmonds-Woodway. Laycee Hill had 14 assists and nine digs, Jessika Barlow had 11 kills and nine digs and Apol Thomaier had four blocks and six kills for Lynnwood.

Darrington 3, Friday Harbor 0: At Darrington, Kolby Fanning was a perfect 19-for-19 serving with three service aces and added 20 assists and Randi Wales contributed 10 kills in a 25-16, 25-18, 25-12 Loggers’ Northwest 1A/2B League victory. Darrington (7-3 in league, 9-3 overall) remained in contention for the league’s third and final berth to make the Tri-district playoffs. Friday Harbor is now 2-8, 2-12.

Grace Academy 3, Lummi 2: At Bellingham, Grace Academy increased its winning streak to five matches, defeating Lummi 18-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17, 15-8 in a back-and-forth Northwest 1B League match. Lauren Krumm had 13 service aces, 10 kills and 15 assists; Hannah Krumm had 12 aces and four kills, and Katie Mittlestaedt scored three service aces and 12 kills for Grace Academy. Grace Academy is now 7-3 in league, 7-7 overall, which is more wins in the 2009 season than Grace Academy had previously compiled in school history. Lummi is 5-5, 6-6.