By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
Sacrifice is just part of the game.
First-year Everett Community College volleyball coach Sue Snow knows this best.
With barely enough players to field a team, Snow signed up a week ago for classes at EvCC so she would be eligible to play as a reserve on her squad. Although Snow already has earned her associates’ degree, her young team had only six players -just enough to fill a starting lineup without the luxury of having substitutes.
“I played when I was attending school here,” she said. “It’s just one of those things a coach does.”
Her dedication, however, ultimately wasn’t needed thanks to the arrival of Wendy Randolph and Rachel Schmidt, both Arlington High School graduates, who just recently became eligible.
EvCC played its first home game Friday, losing 3-0 to Olympic. The game was played under gymnasium lights, something the team hasn’t seen in its practices due to school construction. The loss dropped the team to 0-2 in league and 2-3 overall. It continues league play today at home against Shoreline Community College beginning at 7 p.m.
Passing Grade: The true test of the cross country season so far hasn’t been competing against stronger, talent-laden NCAA Division I or Division II teams. Those meets were just warm ups. The important test came last week when the EvCC men’s cross country team ran against only community colleges. The result: EvCC won last weekend’s the Skagit Valley Invitational.
“It’s good conditioning to run against the University of Washington and Western (Washington) University,” coach Sue Grigsby said. “But we don’t always want to get hammered, it can be demoralizing. So, I am very proud of how we performed at Skagit.”
Lynnwood High School graduate Charlie Walker led the team with a third-place finish. Former Snohomish High School’s Matt Hennigan came in fourth.
Injury Plagued: Edmonds Community College men’s soccer coach Eddie Fernandez hoped his team would improve on last year’s stellar showing, when Tritons went 16-0 in regular season play before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. However, after going 2-0 to start the season, EdCC has run across the injury bug, losing key returnees defensemen Igor Zuyev (knee strain), Winfred Smith (back) and midfielder Farah Simo (ankle), three of the 2000 team’s four returners.
“Injuries are part of the game,” Fernandez said. “We should get them back this week.”
EdCC travels to Peninsula today and hosts Skagit Valley on Saturday.
70th-minute blues: On first glance, the 0-5 record says it all, right? Well, maybe. Sometimes there are a few circumstances that are noteworthy.
For instance, EvCC’s men’s soccer team suffered three losses after squandering leads or ties heading into the 70th minute of 90-minute games. Late game lapses have resulted in a barrage of opponent goals that have left the Trojans winless.
“We’ve lost games late in second half,” EvCC coach Brent Aune said. “The teams we play are much too good to give up easy goals. We’ll improve.”
He hopes the rebound begins today when EvCC plays Skagit Valley at 5 p.m. at Walter Hall.
Top players: EvCC women’s cross country – Emily Van DenEkart (Arlington High School), first place Skagit Valley Invitational; Erin Simpkins (Marysville-Pilchuck High School), fourth place Skagit Valley Invitational; EvCC volleyball vs. Olympic – Rachel Wood 16 assists, Rachel Schmidt eight kills; EdCC volleyball vs. Shoreline – Linnett Rain 14 kills, Stephanie Schmidt 27 assists; EdCC men’s soccer – Ryan Hopp (Marysville-Pilchuck) five goals in six games.
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