Coupeville Sports

Former Wolf star Jessica Riddle (13) and some of her Anacortes High School teammates celebrate their impressive run at the state tourney.

Two years as a Wolf. Two years as a Seahawk. Four years as a star.

The wild ride for volleyball sensation Jessica Riddle has reached an end (at least at the high school level), with her being proclaimed as pretty much the best spiker in this region.

The Anacortes High School senior — who played her first two seasons for Coupeville with older sister Michelle — was named MVP of the Northwest Conference this season, was picked as the Skagit Valley Herald Player of the Year and led her squad to an unbeaten regular season. The Seahawks eventually claimed 5th at state in 2A.

“It was a great season overall and I am really honored to lead such an awesome group of girls,” Riddle said. “It was a fantastic way to end the season and to begin my senior year!”

Anacortes claimed fifth-place state trophies both seasons Riddle suited up for them.

They opened this year’s tournament by downing Fife 25-17, 25-21, 25-23, then lost a heart-breaker to Tumwater in the quarterfinals, falling 23-25, 28-26, 25-20, 18-25, 18-16 despite 27 kills from Riddle.

Tumwater eventually finished second, losing to West Valley (Yakima), last year’s 3A champ. While this year’s school reclassification shuffle had dropped the Eastern Washington squad a rung, Colville, the 1A champ a season ago, moved up a class and finished 4th in 2A.

Riddle and her teammates closed the tourney by bouncing Sequim 25-12, 25-19, 25-18 behind 17 kills, 22 digs and four aces from the former Wolf. They then avenged a bi-district loss to league rival Burlington-Edison, shredding the Tigers 25-15, 25-19, 25-21 in Riddle’s high school swan song.

And over here on Whidbey? CHS fans were left to wonder what might have been, if a family move hadn’t plucked Riddle away and she had played two more seasons along side Bessie Walstad in the red and black.

If only. If only.