Coupeville Sports

Big-hitting Wolf junior Hailey Hammer (left) and one of her many fans. (John Fisken photo)

Capping a season-opening three-game home stand, the Coupeville High School volleyball squad put up an epic fight Tuesday night.

With Hailey Hammer spraying kills and Megan Oakes doling out assists to everyone in sight, the Wolves pushed their big-school opponent to four closely-fought sets before bowing. The 25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20 loss dropped Coupeville to 1-2 overall, 0-2 in Cascade Conference play.

Next up for the squad is the first road match under new coach Kirsty Croghan, a short jaunt down the Island to face arch-rival South Whidbey Thursday, Sept. 19.

The Falcons are 2-1 overall, 1-1 in league play after knocking off Cedarcrest Tuesday.

Facing a tough foe in Lakewood, the Wolves refused to go down easy.

“The girls did great tonight,” Croghan said. “It was a fun and exciting match. I can’t wait for the rest of the season.”

Hammer notched nine kills to pace the Wolves, while the high-flying Madeline Strasburg collected six. Breeanna Messner put away five, while also going a perfect 10-of-10 at the service line, with two aces.

Oakes, who had a team-high 23 assists, was 16-of-19 on serves, with two aces, while Amanda Fabrizi was 10-of-12 with three aces. Fabrizi was Coupeville’s first line of defense, as well, as she went 28-of-31 on service returns.

Messner (12-of-12) and fellow senior Haley Sherman (7-of-7) were both flawless on returns. Junior Kacie Kiel topped Coupeville with seven digs.