LYNNWOOD — Meadowdale libero Amy Rickel had 29 digs to lead a strong defensive effort and the Mavericks knocked off seventh-ranked Glacier Peak in three sets, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23 in a Wesco 3A South league match.
“(Rickel) was everywhere,” said Meadowdale head coach Machen Shrum. “And she also got balls up to the frontcourt to our setter (Tara Fishback) and made it easy for her to make good choices.”
Rickel’s distribution helped Fishback record a match-high 32 assists and the Mavericks setter had three solid options to choose from. Middle hitter Sloane Morrison had nine kills and Kayla Cummins and Gabrielle Mahler each tallied seven kills and four block assists.
Ruby Mensing led the Grizzlies with 10 kills and 19 digs, after not playing much on Saturday during the Reach the Peak Tournament due to injury. Shrum didn’t think the Glacier Peak star was at her best.
“It was one of the first things I looked for when I got to the gym, was Ruby suited up?” said Shrum. “She played, hit and jumped. But we were able to block her a couple of times and I don’t think she was 100 percent tonight.”
Meadowdale won the first game comfortably, but Glacier Peak began to assert itself in the second. Down 24-19, the Mavericks defense turned it up a notch and outscored the Grizzlies 8-1 win 27-25.
“We came together as a team in the second,” said Shrum. “We really had to chase the ball to get it back into play to win some key points.”
That same scenario happened again in the third set. The Grizzlies had a 22-18 lead, but the Mavericks rallied to take 24-23 lead and Cummins kill down the line closed out the match.
The win was a crucial one for the Mavericks and a lost opportunity for Glacier Peak. Had the Grizzlies won, they would have been two games up on Meadowdale and a half-game ahead of Shorewood, with victories over both schools. Instead, the Mavericks, Thunderbirds and Grizzlies are all tied at 3-1 in the Wesco 3A South.
“High school girls don’t always look at the standings,” said Shrum. “But this year I’ve been able to say ‘It’s important for us to win this match’ and tonight we got a big, important win.”
At Meadowdale H.S
Glacier Peak162523—0
Meadowdale252725—3
Highlights—Glacier Peak: Ruby Mensing 10 kills, 19 digs; McKenzie Wilkinson 11 digs, 16 assists; Maddi Ober eight kills; Maria Darling eight kills. Meadowdale: Sloane Morrison nine kills; Tara Fishback 32 assists; Amy Rickel 29 digs; Kayla Cummins seven kills, four blocks; Gabrielle Mahler seven Kills, four blocks. Records—Glacier Peak 3-1 league, 8-2 overall. Meadowdale 3-1, 7-3.
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