Scout Smith was a flawless passer Tuesday, handing out 35 assists as Coupeville volleyball drilled host Cedar Park Christian. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
At a spiffy 10-1, the 2019 Wolf squad has tied the 2004 team for best start in program history. (Photo by Lisa Toomey)
You know, Cory Whitmore is doing pretty OK.
The Coupeville High School volleyball coach is in his fourth season at the school, and he’s now produced double-digit win totals in every campaign.
After rolling up 11, 13, and 11 wins over the past three seasons, Whitmore’s spike-happy assassins sit at 10-1 after a huge win in Bothell Tuesday night.
Bouncing host Cedar Park Christian 25-18, 26-24, 16-25, 25-18, the Wolves rise to 5-1 in North Sound Conference play, which leaves them a game off of King’s (6-0, 10-0) in the race for a league title.
The 10-1 start matches the best record at this point of the season since the 2004 CHS team, which eventually peaked at 14-1 before finishing 14-3.
Coupeville’s 2019 squad still has four regular season matches left on the schedule, starting with a trip Thursday to Langley to face South Whidbey.
Squaring off with Cedar Park, the Wolves were looking for their second win against the Eagles, while trying to improve on last year, when they split regular season matches before knocking CPC out of the district playoffs in meeting #3.
Tuesday’s tilt was, in some ways, a mirror image of the first match-up between the two squads, as Coupeville swept the first two sets, had a brief stumble in set three, then righted the ship.
“We definitely had our big ups and downs,” Whitmore said. “Had to work through some moments where we weren’t controlling the tempo, but ultimately our players came up big in the fourth to seal the win.”
Coupeville was playing its third match without big hitter Chelsea Prescott, as she recovers from an ankle injury, but the Wolves compensated by getting production across the board.
Maya Toomey-Stout matched her season-high with 19 kills, while Zoe Trujillo (12), Hannah Davidson (9), Maddie Vondrak (5), and Scout Smith (2) picked up the rest of Coupeville’s put-aways.
Toss in solid work controlling the floor, with Smith (12), Emma Mathusek (10), Lucy Sandahl (9), Toomey-Stout (8), Trujillo (6), Raven Vick (1), and Davidson (1) combining for 47 digs, and few CPC shots got away from the Wolves.
Coupeville also had four players — Lucy Tenore, Vondrak, Davidson, and Smith — collect blocks at the net, while Sandahl and Davidson served two aces apiece, and Smith handed out 35 assists.
Getting something from everyone on the floor is one of Whitmore’s goals, and the Wolves accomplished the task in style.
“Lucy Sandahl had great clean play with long service runs, solid defense and one spectacular diving play to keep a rally alive and turn into offense and a big point to swing things in our favor,” Whitmore said.
“I thought Scout and Maya found their connection,” he added. “And Hannah went on two serving runs that scrambled CPC and gave us control of the fourth set.”
As he headed back to the bus, enjoying the victory while already looking ahead to the next match, Whitmore knew which stat he enjoyed the most, and it starts with a W.
“Overall, happy to win on the road,” he said.
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