By KEVIN BREIWICK
Herald Writer
The Edmonds Community College volleyball team took the first step in securing second place in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges North Division, defeating Olympic 15-8, 15-4, 15-9 Monday in the first of its final three matches.
Edmonds now is 7-3 in the North Division. Whatcom College, 7-4 North Division, stayed on the Tritons heals by defeating Bellevue in three games Monday.
EdCC’s victory against Olympic came after a disappointing showing at the Mount Hood Tournament Oct. 27-28th. The Tritons went 0-3 the first day of tournament play, losing to Clackamas, Pierce and Columbia Basin.
The team came back the second day to defeat Umpqua and Bellevue, both in two games, but also lost a tough match to Skagit Valley 9-15, 17-15, 15-10, and finished 13th out of 16 teams at the tournament.
“We didn’t do as well as we should of,” EdCC coach Bill Kellogg said. “(But) we played Clackamas tough. That showed me we have a good shot at NWAACC.”
Against Skagit Valley, Edmonds held game point in the second game three times before losing. However, the loss gave Kellogg confidence that his team has a shot at beating Skagit Valley when the teams meet again in the Tritons’ final season match Nov. 6.
Edmonds continues its busy week when it travels to Coos Bay, Ore., Friday, to compete in the Southwest Oregon Tournament.
The Everett volleyball team competes in the Shoreline Tournament this weekend. The Trojans, 3-7 North Division, wrap up their season Monday at home against Shoreline.
“The boys are pretty focused this time,” EdCC coach Don Nelson said, “but it’s soccer and anything can happen.”
EvCC, beaten 2-0 by Edmonds on Oct. 7, will look blemish the Tritons record.
Nelson said the pressure is alleviated because the team has already captured the division title.
Edmonds will then prepare for the playoffs where they play a loser-out game against the No. 4 team from the Southwest at home Nov. 12.
Everett plays at Peninsula today at 3 p.m.
Columbia Basin, which tied Wenatchee Valley Oct. 28, took over first place with 35 points. Edmonds, 11-2-1, is in second with 34 and North Idaho is in third with 33.
The Tritons can move back up to first if they beat Wenatchee Valley and if Columbia Basin loses to Spokane. Both games are today.
EdCC wraps up its season at home against Everett Saturday at noon, and the NWAACC playoffs start Nov. 12. If the EdCC finishes first they will match up with the Southwest Division’s fourth place finisher. If they finish second, the Tritons will play the Southwest’s No. 3 seed.
Everett’s women’s team will try for its first victory against the Tritons after losing 2-0 to Bellevue on Saturday.
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