“The Golden Banana” inspired Coupeville Middle School’s spikers to a win over their archrivals. (Photos courtesy Shaloma Allen)
Parting is such sweet sorrow, especially when you’re playing your best.
The season came to an end Wednesday for the Coupeville Middle School volleyball squads, but the Wolves exited in style.
Sweeping three matches from arch-rival South Whidbey in Langley, CMS avenged season-opening losses, concluding a campaign of great growth.
Thanks to a shuffle in the schedule, the Wolves actually played twice in less than 24 hours, also traveling to Lakewood Tuesday before squaring off with their next-door neighbors.
“Ace incoming!”
How the final two days of the season played out:
Lakewood:
Coupeville’s varsity, which won three of its final four matches, roared to a 25-16, 25-11, 8-15 victory.
“Varsity played so well together,” said CMS coach Shaloma Allen.
Rhylee Inman and Zariyah Allen paced the offense, collecting three kills apiece while leading the Wolf attack at the net.
The dynamic duo had plenty of help, as Jade Peabody popped two kills, while Cameron Van Dyke’s “setting was consistent and strong,” with the 8th grade ace “also having some good runs serving.”
The other two Wolf squads fell to Lakewood, which supports a large 2A high school, but didn’t go down without putting up a considerable fight.
“The girls played hard against a tough team,” Shaloma Allen said.
Coupeville’s JV lost 25-16, 25-20, 25-13, with Reina Rivers (5), Emma Green (2), and Amira Anunciado (2) racking up multiple service aces.
The Wolves scorched Lakewood from the stripe, with Annabelle Cundiff, Halle Black, Arley Bosler, and Josie McColl also collecting an ace apiece.
In the C-Team battle, the hosts nipped Coupeville 25-22 in the first set, before the teams split the final two frames.
While the scores to those sets have been lost in the breeze, the Wolves acquitted themselves nicely on their serve, with Kolby Johnson (10) and Scarlett Jackson (9) leading the way in successfully launching balls over the net.
The future of Coupeville volleyball is a bright one.
South Whidbey:
The finale was “one for the record books.”
“The way each team played today … it was like the stars aligned and all their practice and hard work materialized,” Shaloma Allen said.
Coupeville’s C-Team stormed from behind to capture a 17-25, 25-20, 15-5 win in which the Wolves “put in great effort and really defined teamwork.”
Jackson was a serving machine, peppering South Whidbey with six aces, while Johnson “had five opportunities to serve and aced every one.”
Also strong at the line were Jasmine Allen and Mia Goers, while Diana Terran Herrera “was impressive with her passing along with Jasmine Allen, Scarlet Barnes, and Arley Bosler.”
Rounding out the roster were Maja Govorcin, Ava Black, Daisy Leedy-Bonifas, Viktoria Grieves, Arianna Vinson, and Milly Somes, while Emma Dugger, who was out sick, was with the team in spirit.
Keeping the good times going, the Wolf JV strolled to a 25-22, 25-13, 15-12 win in its rumble.
Leading servers were Addy Jacobson, Halle Black, Reina Rivers, Annabelle Cundiff, and Emma Green.
Shaloma Allen praised the passing of her team, which fueled Coupeville’s domination.
“Halle Black was showing her skills as a setter while also passing like a pro,” the coach said.
“Josie McColl was getting passes and hitting with confidence and Jasmine Allen, Arley Bosler, and Reina Rivers were getting dig after dig.
“Each point was a battle. They stayed in it volley after volley and ultimately won against a tough team.”
Sabrina Judnich and Amira Anunciado also saw action for the victorious Wolves.
“We win, son, we win.”
Capping the day, Coupeville’s varsity rallied from a set down for a 28-30, 25-19, 15-8 victory to put an exclamation point on things.
“We were tied the majority of the first set,” Shaloma Allen said. “Matching each other point for point but ultimately lost after a hard battle.
“The girls bounced back with renewed determination and teamwork.”
Kaleigha Millison had the hot hand at the service line, with Reagan Green, Zariyah Allen, Cameron Van Dyke, and Reina Rivers also zipping unhittable balls at South Whidbey.
With Van Dyke “setting so well the whole time,” heavy hitters Rhylee Inman (five kills plus “many attacks, tips and passes”) and Zariyah Allen (“a lot of digs and hits”) terrorized their rivals, while Emily Rains, Jade Peabody, and Faith Rivers also chipped in to end the season on a real high note.
While the wins were huge, Coupeville’s coaches — Shaloma Allen and Katie Rohrbach — also appreciate how their players worked together on and off the floor.
“The teams cheered each other on from the stands and supported each other so well,” Allen said. “The positivity was high the whole time. They had so much fun.”
“On to next season!”
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