CONCRETE — Darrington will be going to the 2B Tri-district playoffs.
The only question is: What seed will it be?
Thanks to a 3-0 Northwest 1A/2B victory over Concrete (25-12, 25-16, 25-16), the Loggers have assured themselves a spot in the tournament.
“It’s always nice when you know that you’re in,” Darrington head coach Greg Powell said. “Only three teams get to go out of our seven and it usually comes down to the last game or two. It’s a great feeling.”
Darrington (8-3 league, 10-3 overall) is one game behind Shoreline Christian (9-2,11-2) with one game to go for each team. The Loggers could force a tie for second place in the conference with a win and Shoreline Christian loss on Thursday.
Juniors Hailey Wales had 11 kills and three service aces and Caresse Baker had eight kills and five aces to lead the Loggers.
“Hailey is an outstanding athlete recovering from a very severe ankle sprain less than two weeks ago and she’s already playing,” Powell said. “She’s a great competitor. As is Caresse, who’s our outside hitter. Both are very close for the team lead in kills … Hailey may be ahead by five or six.”
The Darrington coach then went on to praise senior setter Kolby Fanning (eight-for-eight serving with three aces): “She’s extremely consistent as a server and as a setter has gotten better over the last couple years. She’s been a really strong player for our team this year. She’s only about 5-3 but is very strong willed and competitve. Kolby’s really coachable. She’s been a real asset to the team.”
The Loggers knew going into the game that a victory would clinch the playoff berth, a goal they have had since the beginning of the season.
“Everybody was excited,” Powell said. “I think everybody felt really satisfied. It’s one of the goals you have when you start out the season and you reach it and there’s a sense of satisfaction.”
“Concrete competed really hard” after a mid-season coaching change, Powell added. The assistant coach was promoted last week when the head coach stepped down. Powell said midseason changes are “unusual in high school” but that Concrete (0-11, 1-13) responded well, winning it’s first game of the season under it’s new head coach the next night.
Darrington will now focus on it’s final regular season match of the season, and trying to force that tie for second place in the conference.
“We know that Mount Vernon Christian is another team that has really improved this year,” Powell said, “and until tonight had an outside shot of going to districts. They have a very strong middle hitter and they’re well coached. Hopefully we’ll come away with a win so we can get second place in the league.”
Lakewood 3, Cedarcrest 1: At Marysville, Lakewood (6-8 league and overall) defeated Cedarcrest (2-12, 2-12) in the Cascade Conference match by scores of 25-18, 23-25, 25-12 and 25-16. Hayley Liebel and Kaylee Diggs each had 10 kills, Sam Adams had 19 assists, Allie Hernandez had 11 digs and Brittany Parmentier had four blocks for Lakewood. Lakewood and Granite Falls both won Tuesday, setting up a tiebreaker match Thursday at Lakewood. The winner will take the third seed into the 2A District 1 playoffs. The loser goes to a play-in match.
Granite Falls 3, Sultan 0: At Sultan, Granite Falls won the Cascade Conference game 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 and, due to a Lakewood win over Cedarcrest, will play a tiebreaker game at 6 p.m., Thursday at Lakewood High School for the conference’s third seed to the 2A District 1 tournament. The tiebreaker loser goes to a play-in match. Monesa Moore had 16 kills and Hanna Dudder had 21 assists for the Tigers (6-8 in league and overall). Sultan (0-14, 0-14) was led by Kaylee Beckel, who had seven kills and six blocks, and Courtney Batts, who added nine assists.
Coupeville 3, South Whidbey 1: At Langley, Coupeville won the Cascade Conference match 13-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23. Michelle Riddle led the Wolves with 10 kills and 12 digs and Jessica Riddle added 10 kills and 14 digs for Coupeville (8-6 in league, 8-6 overall). Allison Wood had 22 kills and 10 digs and Kelsie Dorpat had 40 assists for South Whidbey (8-6, 8-6).
Grace Academy 3, Highland Christian 0: At Marysville, Grace Academy won in straight sets 25-17, 25-22, 25-12 in the Northwest 1B match behind Andi McAulisse’s five kills and seven aces, Katie Mittlestaedt’s four kills and five aces and Lauren Krumm’s 12 assists, six aces, and four kills. Grace Academy is now 8-4 in league, 8-8 overall. Highland Christian is 0-9, 0-11.
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