Wolfpack sweeps arch-rival

  • David Pan<br>Enterprise sports editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:39am

MILL CREEK — The Jackson volleyball team stepped up its game against one of its toughest preseason opponents.

The extra effort more than paid off as the Wolfpack upended district rival Everett 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 in a hard-fought non-conference match Sept. 21 at Jackson High School.

Though the Timberwolves (South Division) and Seagulls (North Division) are in different leagues, the two schools still consider themselves rivals. Many of the players on both teams are friends and some are teammates on club teams.

So the three-game sweep was especially satisfying for the Timberwolves (4-1 overall).

“We were so ready for this game,” said Brittany Eskridge, who led the Wolfpack with 14 kills. “We had been preparing for this game for a while and we know we had to come out and give it all we had … this one definitely felt good because they’re rivals.”

Six of Eskridge’s 12 kills came in the third game and the Jackson senior scored her team’s final three points.

Senior setter Audra Linsenmayer said the victory over Everett was one of Jackson’s top all-around performances of the season.

“We put the ball down. We were passing well,” Linsenmayer said. “Everything was together. We kept the momentum going, which we don’t usually do. We kind of come from behind a lot. This was good, just pushing through that.”

Jackson head coach Suzi Lillibridge agreed that her players rose to the challenge against a strong Everett squad (2-2).

“This was a credit to the girls that we were playing a better team and they were able to step up and play well against them,” Lillibridge said. “This was a better performance playing against a high-caliber team.”

The Wolfpack has had a successful preseason but upped the ante against the Seagulls, Linsenmayer said.

“I always thought we could do better,” she added. “This kind of showed that we’re really pushing forward.”

The Jackson players are communicating better, which in turn is leading to better rallies.

“They know when to help me when I can’t get to the ball and people know where their spots are so they can dig it or hit it,” Linsenmayer said.

Senior co-captain Megan Forbes returned to the lineup, which enabled Lillibridge to move Eskridge to the outside. Forbes had been bothered by an Achilles tendon problem and was cleared to play a day earlier.

Having Forbes in the lineup definitely enhances the Jackson lineup, Lillibridge said.

“You put Eskridge outside — nobody is going to stop her,” she added.

Another key to the victory was that both Forbes and Eskridge’s hits were largely in-bounds, Linsenmayer said.

Eskridge played club volleyball during the off-season, as do many of her teammates. Last year, however, was her first season of playing high school volleyball.

“It just definitely helped me season up a little bit,” Eskridge said. “There’s still a lot I need to learn, but it definitely boosted my talent a little more.”

Lillibridge sees a difference in Eskridge’s play.

“She has smart moves on defense and offensively, she’s getting smarter and smarter,” Lillibridge said.

The Timberwolves as a team have improved since the start of the preseason and Linsenmayer said that Jackson is ready for the start of league play next week.

“When it comes we’ll just keep on getting better throughout the season,” she said.

Everett battled Jackson tough in all three games. The Timberwolves’ biggest lead in game one was six points — 22-16. The Seagulls cut the lead to three points twice late in the game before the Wolfpack prevailed.

Jackson trailed 18-15 in the second game but then responded with a 10-4 run for the victory.

“We actually got down mentally,” Eskridge said of the brief lapse in the second game. “We just pumped each other up. We had each other’s back. We told each other to shake it off. We just came back with the win.”

Added Linsenmayer, “We knew we had to pull together. Once everyone calmed down we knew what we had to do.”

Jackson jumped out to a 4-1 lead in game three and led throughout.

“We went five games with Everett last year,” Lillibridge said. “It was nice to take them in three close games. It could have gone both ways. The kids pulled it out. They played some pretty good defense.”

Lillibridge still sees room for improvement but is pleased with where her team is at right now.

“Our weakness up to tonight, and we had some breakdowns, is our serve-receive,” Lillibridge said. “We do a pretty good job of digging the ball off some hits. We’re a little weak on tips from other teams … our serve-receive was a little more consistent (tonight).

“We need to stop those mental breakdowns and to be able to keep pushing on those teams that are going to be really close competition and definitely pass the ball on serve-receive.”

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