Coupeville Sports

   Bessie Walstad delivers a floor-rattling hit during a match last season, in this photo by Shelli Trumbull.

There is great happiness in volleyball coach land.

The news that Coupeville High School star Bessie Walstad does NOT have a broken ankle as originally feared is cause for rejoicing on the part of Wolf spiker guru Toni Crebbin.

X-rays revealed that Walstad had suffered a bad sprain and not a break from an injury suffered during a recent match. Instead of missing most of her senior season, the Wolves’ most dominant player is expected to return for at least the final month of the season.

“We anticipated she would be out for two weeks, and the swelling is going down, so hopefully she is back for Tuesday next week, or at least by Thursday,” Crebbin said.

Her return, when it happens, will allow Crebbin a chance to play a more solid lineup. With a variety of bumps, bruises and illnesses affecting her squad — Lauren Escalle is out sick for tonight’s tussle at Granite Falls — Crebbin has had to shuffle her lineups most of the season.

Still, Coupeville has won two of its last three games, with big performances from a variety of players such as Hailey Hammer, Breeanna Messner, Megan Oakes and Allie Hanigan.