Big bucks, big spikes

October 11, 2022 by David Svien

Senior setter Maddie Georges doled out 20 assists Tuesday as Coupeville rolled past Concrete. (Jackie Saia photo)

It was a win-win night.

The Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad thrashed visiting Concrete in straight sets Tuesday, while also raising nearly $1,000 for the fight against breast cancer.

Playing on Dig Pink Night, the Wolves cruised past the Lions 25-10, 25-6, 25-7 to remain undefeated in Northwest 2B/1B League play.

Coupeville is 5-0 in conference action, 6-3 overall heading into a showdown Thursday at Mount Vernon Christian (6-1, 10-1).

Still ahead for the Wolves are two matches against three-time defending 2B state champs La Conner (5-0, 7-1).

But all of that is for another day.

Tuesday night was about getting on the court and picking apart the conference cellar-dweller, and the Wolves were efficient.

Everyone played, and everyone contributed, allowing CHS coach Cory Whitmore a chance to tinker with his lineup and see what certain players could deliver in sometimes unfamiliar roles.

Key to the assault on Concrete was the service game, where Coupeville dominated.

“We served very well, and were clean at the line,” Whitmore said.

That was apparent from the very start, as Maddie Georges, Ryanne Knoblich, Alita Blouin, Taygin Jump, and Katie Marti all racked up points on their serve in the opening set.

By contrast, Concrete didn’t generate a point on offense until it was already trailing 20-6.

When the Lions did get Coupeville’s serves back in play, the Wolf big hitters went to work endings things quickly.

Lyla Stuurmans and Grey Peabody beat the stuffing out of the volleyball on big spike winners, though it was Blouin who had the loudest, nastiest hit in the first frame.

It came on a serve, which zipped low and hard across the net before pegging a Concrete player right in the face, the Lion player’s shoulder only absorbing about 3% of the blow.

The ever-mysterious Blouin, showing only the slightest smile at the corners of her mouth, simply walked away like a gunfighter, leaving the bodies where they dropped.

But it wasn’t all power for the Wolves, as Mia Farris bounded to the skies to drop in a tip winner on set point, essentially ending the match after one lopsided set.

No volleyball gets away from Madison McMillan (14), Taygin Jump (center), and Alita Blouin. (Jackie Saia photo)

The teams played two more frames, but only one squad stood a chance, as Coupeville put on a clinic.

Georges, who recorded her 200th assist of the season Tuesday, flicked winners at the service line, with a little help from Knoblich, who was deadly and dangerous while guarding the net.

Fellow Wolf senior Jill Prince chipped in with a graceful tip winner to stall a brief Concrete rally, then it was back to the gun show.

Stuurmans and fellow sophomore Madison McMillan showcased their ability to deliver nuclear-style blasts which tore off the corner of the court while staying just inbounds.

Not to be outdone, Peabody climbed an invisible stairway to heaven, then rained down unholy Hell on the Lions waiting below, her spikes bending time and space.

Or at least it felt that way sometimes, as Concrete’s players, while scrappy, had little chance of offsetting Coupeville’s missiles.

Mia Farris delivered the final punctuation, cracking open the court with a ferocious spike while dad Fred did his best imitation of a neutral observer while filling the role of impartial linesman.

Though, if you looked closely, he, like the rest of the Wolf fans, had plenty to smile about.

Tuesday stats:

Alita Blouin — 9 digs, 2 aces
Mia Farris — 4 kills, 4 aces
Maddie Georges — 20 assists, 8 aces
Taygin Jump — 1 kill, 2 digs, 7 aces
Ryanne Knoblich — 3 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces
Madison McMillan — 3 kills, 2 digs, 4 aces
Grey Peabody — 6 kills
Jill Prince — 3 kills
Lyla Stuurmans — 4 kills

Wolves raise bucks, awareness:

Dig Pink Night was a huge success, as the Wolves generated major moola by selling raffle tickets for gift baskets, with the proceeds going to the Whidbey Health Foundation.

Alerted by Wolf moms that the spikers had brought in nearly $1,000, Whitmore beamed, his smile filling the gym.

“It was phenomenal,” he said.

“I’m so proud of this program – the kids, the parents, the fans – everyone who was involved in making it a success.”