Coupeville Sports

Freshman Katrina McGranahan, who has started playing some varsity as well, delivered big numbers in her team’s JV win Tuesday. (John Fisken photos)

Wolves (l to r) Sofia Hassapis, Payton Aparicio, Lauren Grove, Hope Lodell, Allison Wenzel and McGranahan celebrate another winner.

Rustiness didn’t matter.

Despite being off the court for a bit, thanks to one school not having a team for them to play and another not being able to make it to Whidbey because of a cancelled ferry, the Coupeville High School JV spikers were just fine Tuesday night.

Finally able to play a full match for the first time in a week, the Wolves drilled host Port Townsend 25-13, 25-18, 25-20.

Coupeville’s third win of the season was sparked by superb serving (25 service aces) and strong net work (13 kills).

“Overall, everyone played like we haven’t practiced in a week or played a match in about that same time frame, but we were able to work together and get the job done, which was sweet!,” said CHS coach Amy King.

After dominating the first set behind its starters, Coupeville liberally used its bench the rest of the night to make sure everyone played in the final road game of the year.

“Those girls also stepped up and accepted the challenge,” King said, “Took care of business and helped us win.”

With Brittany Powers and Allison Wenzel getting time as setters and Kameryn St Onge dominating at the net,the second unit brought the heat.

Meanwhile, the vocal team leader brought the emotion, even when she was on the bench.

“I was almost deaf by the end of this game as Lauren Grove sat next to me, yelling and cheering for her teammates on the floor, celebrating everything as loudly as she could,” King said with a laugh.

St Onge led the attack with six kills, while Katrina McGranahan and Hope Lodell paced the Wolves at the stripe, recording five service aces apiece.

Nearly all the Wolves were spot-on with their serves, as Powers (3), Wenzel (3), Payton Aparicio (3), Jae LeVine (2), Mackenzi Valko (2), Kayla Rose (1) and St Onge (1) all recorded aces.

Maggie Crimmins (three serves), Abby Parker (“Just hustled anywhere she was on the court”), Claire Mietus (“Worked hard at the net”) and Sofia Hassapis (two kills) all chipped in as well.

Grove, who has stepped forward to claim the role of team leader, made her impact felt both on and off the court.

“As always, Lauren was a great and vocal leader, had many great passes and helped keep the team up and motivated to win,” King said.

The emotion she and her teammates showed carried over to the varsity match, when they made their coach proud by out-shouting a fired-up home crowd.

“I was SOOO happy with our JV,” King said. “Port Townsend had a strong cheering section, much like what we have when our guys are at the games, yelling and intimidating the other team.

“Our JV out-yelled them almost all night!”