After narrowly missing out on a berth to the Class B state volleyball championships a year ago, Shoreline Christian is aiming for a return to the playoffs.
The Crusaders bring back three senior starters off last year’s team that dropped a pair of winner-to-state, loser-out matches at the Tri-district tournament.
Evergreen Lutheran shook off a 5-0 deficit in the third game to stun Shoreline Christian 5-15, 15-11, 15-12 and claim the tournament’s third and final state berth.
Seniors Cristina Nelson, Heather Waller and Rachel Visser and junior Brittany Van Hal all return for the Crusaders on the front row.
Nelson and Waller were both Northwest B League second-team, all-opponent selections in 2002.
“Cristina and Heather are four-year varsity players who bring a lot of experience and poise to the team,” Crusaders coach Glenn Hoogerhyde said. “Rachel is the sparkplug. These three are focused and have high goals for the team.”
Shoreline Christian has advanced to the playoffs three out of the last four years, but hasn’t made it to state since 1999.
Defending Tri-district champion Darrington lost just three seniors and is considered the early favorite to claim the league title.
“We are a younger team in terms of varsity experience, but we hope to be very competitive,” Hoogerhyde said. “With the changes to the game this year we hope to be able to be very disciplined and able to raise (our) level of play.”
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.