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Senior spikers cap stellar run!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on November 11, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Hope Lodell (1), here backed by junior Ashley Menges, is one of seven seniors who led CHS volleyball to its first state berth in 13 years. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

   Young fans sent the Wolves off to Yakima in style Thursday. (Susan Wenzel photo)

   Junior Emma Smith made it to state in her third season as a varsity player. (Wenzel photo)

   Sophomores (l to r) Emma Mathusek, Maya Toomey-Stout and Scout Smith are planning repeat trips to Eastern Washington. (Charlotte Young photo)

   Chelsea Prescott was the lone freshman to see varsity action this year. (Wenzel photo)

   Allison Wenzel, one of Coupeville’s seniors, the Magnificent Seven. (Susan Wenzel photo)

   Wenzel’s compatriots are (l to r), manager Kayla Rose, Lodell, Katrina McGranahan, Kyla Briscoe, Payton Aparicio, Lauren Rose and, in front, Mikayla Elfrank. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

From also-ran to powerhouse.

The seven Coupeville High School seniors who capped their volleyball careers Friday at the 1A state tourney in Yakima are responsible for an amazing turnaround.

While the Wolves couldn’t escape from an astonishingly-tough draw which pitted them against three of the state’s top six teams in the “Group of Death,” the spikers finished off their school’s best run in 13 years.

Coupeville took a set from undefeated, sixth-ranked Castle Rock in its opener, before falling 25-8, 22-25, 25-8, 25-9.

The Wolves then found themselves face-to-face with #1 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), the defending state champs, who hadn’t lost a set all year until being upended by #4 King’s.

The Eastern Washington juggernaut stayed alive with a 25-12, 25-10, 25-16 win, ending Coupeville’s season at 13-5.

Also headed home from Yakima is fellow Island squad South Whidbey, which lost to Charles Wright Academy and Naches Valley.

King’s plays Lynden Christian in one semifinal Saturday, while Cascade (Leavenworth) meets Chelan, which rallied from down two sets to one to CWA.

While the Wolves will not be hanging a state banner this year, their season stands with the best in program history.

The 13 wins ties the 2004 squad, the last to make it to state, for the most in a single season by a CHS spiker unit.

Along the way, Coupeville won a second-straight Olympic League crown, rolling to a 9-0 conference mark without dropping a set.

Contrast that against 2014, when three of the seven current seniors — Kyla Briscoe, Lauren Rose (and, in a late season cameo) Katrina McGranahan — played for a team which finished 1-11 under Breanne Smedley.

McGranahan, Allison Wenzel, Hope Lodell and Payton Aparicio were the core of a JV team that went 4-5 under Amy King that season during the first year of the then new four-team Olympic League.

As sophomores, Lodell, Aparicio and McGranahan made the full-time jump to varsity, and the Wolves improved to 6-10, including a district playoff win on their home floor against Seattle Christian.

The JV was the first to break through to a winning record, as Heidi Wyman guided the 2015 team to a 7-4 mark.

The big jump came in 2016, with Wenzel moving up to varsity and Mikayla Elfrank arriving from South Whidbey to make it a seven-pack.

Actually six, since a leg injury sidelined big-hitting Briscoe all season.

With Cory Whitmore sliding into the head coaching job after Smedley returned to her alma mater in Columbia River, the Wolves went 11-6, including an 8-1 run to capture a league title.

Kristin Bridges, making it three JV coaches in as many seasons, went 12-2 and the ascent continued.

For those who didn’t think there was much room left to improve, well, you were wrong.

This season Whitmore’s varsity, for the first time featuring all seven Class of 2018 spikers together on the same roster, zipped through a 12-2 regular season, then split two matches at districts.

A win over Cascade Christian, the school which knocked it out of the playoffs two years earlier, sent the Wolves back to Yakima.

And the JV?

Playing for new coach Chris Smith, with the help of now veteran assistant Ashley Herndon (the only coach to be on scene all four years), went 12-1.

That bodes well for the Wolves, who will have seven open roster spots when they return to chase a third-straight league crown and another trip to Yakima.

For the moment, though, the spotlight firmly remains on the splendid senior class, which includes five girls who came within a single strike of making it to state in softball last season.

This time, they broke through, and did it in style.

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Time to hit the road!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on November 9, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   It’s a long ride to Yakima, and Wolf volleyball coach Cory Whitmore plans to stay hydrated. (Kimberly Bepler photo)

   Team manager Kayla Rose, the true power behind the throne. (Justine McGranahan photo)

   Hope Lodell leads the charge from the school to the CHS gym parking lot, as she and her teammates navigate a wall of well-wishers. (Bepler photo)

   Senior spikers Kyla Briscoe (left) and Katrina McGranahan are ready to get going. (Justine McGranahan photo)

Wolf moms (and dads) send their daughters off to the big dance. (Bepler photo)

   McGranahan, a veteran of many, many bus and ferry trips, arrives pillow in hand. (Bepler photo)

Allison Wenzel and Whitmore run the gauntlet. (Bepler photo)

And then the selfie stick came out. (Jennifer Menges photo)

And now the wheels on the bus go round and round, for a very long time.

After being sent on their way Thursday by the entire school — with students, faculty, fans and parents lining the walkway — the Wolf volleyball squad is officially Yakima-bound.

Coupeville opens play at the state tourney 3:15 PM Friday, when it plays undefeated Castle Rock at the SunDome.

Win or lose, the Wolves, who are making their first appearance at the big dance since 2004, return to play a second match Friday night.

That will be against either King’s or the state’s #1 ranked 1A team, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

Win at least one of its two matches Friday and CHS hangs around to play more Saturday.

While they face strong foes, if the past is any indication, the Wolves stand a good shot.

Coupeville spikers earned at least one win each of the four previous times (2001-2004) they went to state.

Thursday afternoon, though, it was all about the anticipation, and the joy of getting major support from their classmates and school.

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Lil’ sprouts grow into big stars!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , , , on November 7, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Current senior Payton Aparicio leads off a look at what this year’s volleyball team was up to in 2004, the last time Wolf spikers made it to the state tourney.

Senior Kyla Briscoe

Senior Mikayla Elfrank

   Assistant coach Ashley Herndon, then a high school senior.

Senior Hope Lodell

Sophomore Emma Mathusek

Senior Katrina McGranahan

Junior Ashley Menges

Freshman Chelsea Prescott

Senior Lauren Rose

Assistant coach Chris Smith

Junior Emma Smith

Sophomore Scout Smith

Sophomore Maya Toomey-Stout

Senior Allison Wenzel (left) and big sis Rachel.

   And head coach Cory Whitmore, back when he was tearing up the court as a 14-year-old.

A lot has changed in 13 years.

When Coupeville High School’s volleyball squad heads to Yakima Thursday, it’ll be the first time the Wolf spikers have made it to the state tourney since 2004.

Back then, Toni Crebbin was calling the shots on the sideline for CHS and all-timers like Taniel Lamb, Mindy Horr and Kirsty Croghan were roaming the floor, mixing thunderous spikes with silky sets and sizzlin’ service aces.

As the 2004 Wolves romped through a season in which they were ranked #1 in the state at one point, the next generation was quietly going about its own business.

Spread across Coupeville and several other towns (and states), the 13 girls and three coaches who comprise this year’s state team had no idea they would one day unite in the spotlight.

While they wait for the bus to gas up for the long trip East, let’s take a ramble down memory lane and see just what they were all up to back in those lazy, hazy days of 2004.

You know, when OutKast was singing “Hey Ya!” and I was busy at Videoville, trying to make people rent the criminally-underrated “13 Going on 30.”

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Survive and thrive!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on November 6, 2017| 1 Comment »

   Hot-serving Katrina McGranahan is one of seven seniors on this year’s state-bound Coupeville High School volleyball squad. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

   After missing her junior year with a leg injury, Kyla Briscoe returned to play a key role in the Wolves success.

Welcome to the Group of Death.

Coupeville’s first trip to the state volleyball tournament in 13 years comes with one small caveat — spikes are about to fly.

But, survive the beginning, and the finale could be sweet.

The 16-team, double-elimination tourney opens Friday with two matches for each team, and the Wolves companions are the deadliest to be found.

Coupeville’s block of four teams includes both remaining undefeated schools, including the defending state champs, who HAVEN’T LOST A SET THIS SEASON … and some rich, private school you all might remember named King’s.

The Wolves won at least one match in all four of their previous trips to the big dance, between 2001-2004.

To keep that going, though, they will have to play their best volleyball of the season.

The opening foe (3:15 PM Friday) is Castle Rock, which arrives bearing a 16-0 mark.

The Rockets were the regular-season champs of the six-team 1A Trico League, which also sends La Center to state.

Castle Rock captured the title at the District 4 tourney, with wins over King’s Way Christian and the aforementioned La Center, earning its 25th trip to state.

In their previous visits, the Rockets have emerged as state champs three times — 1987, 1993 and 2012. They were runner-ups in 1983, 2008 and 2011, as well.

Win or lose, Coupeville is guaranteed a second match Friday night, and that foe will either be former Cascade Conference rival King’s, or the hottest team in 1A currently, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

The Knights, a longtime thorn in the side of the Wolves until CHS jumped to the Olympic League in 2014, are 15-2.

King’s only losses came to 2A Archbishop Thomas Murphy, a defeat it avenged late in the season, and fellow 1A power Lynden Christian.

That loss to the Lyncs kept the Knights from claiming a bi-district title, but they rebounded to drill Meridian to earn their 16th trip to the big dance.

Back-to-back state titles in 2008 and 2009 are the benchmark for King’s spiker program.

But while the Knights are undoubtedly top-drawer, they have a huge obstacle in front of them in Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), which hails from Spokane.

After winning three straight state titles from 1999-2001, the Eagles captured their fourth championship in 2016, and are now back to take their 13th crack at the big dance.

Last year’s title win came against Lynden Christian, preventing the Lyncs from winning a third-straight championship.

While plowing through the eight-team 1A Northeast League, which also sends Freeman to state, Lakeside has been absolutely, positively perfect, winning all 48 sets it has played this season.

With Coupeville a tidy 13-3 itself, its four-team bracket carries a combined record of 60-5, a .923 winning percentage which far outweighs the other three groups.

Whidbey Island’s other state-bound team, South Whidbey, is joined by Charles Wright Academy, Chelan and Naches Valley, and their combined .761 winning percentage (54-17) is the lowest of any group of four.

The other two pods are 58-9 (.866) — La Center, Cascade, Kiona-Benton and Overlake — and 53-15 (.779) — Freeman, Lynden Christian, Bellevue Christian and Goldendale.

A breakdown of what’s coming this weekend:

What: 1A state volleyball tourney.

When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-11

Where: Yakima Valley SunDome (1301 S Fair Ave)

Admission (all day/all tournament):

Adult — $11/$19
Student — $9/$15
Senior Citizen (62+) — $9/$15
Child (under 5) — Free

 

Team capsules:

 

Coupeville:

Season record: 13-3

League finish: #1 in 1A Olympic League

Sets W/L: 40-10

Coach: Cory Whitmore

Mascot: Wolves

 

Bellevue Christian:

Season record: 12-5

League finish: #2 in 1A Nisqually League

Sets W/L: 37-18

Coach: Jenna Bronson

Mascot: Vikings

 

Cascade:

Season record: 14-1

League finish: #1 in 1A Caribou Trail League

Sets W/L: 42-5

Coach: Marni McMahon

Mascot: Kodiaks

 

Castle Rock:

Season record: 16-0

League finish: #1 in 1A Trico League

Sets W/L: 48-9

Coach: Jeana Bayes

Mascot: Rockets

 

Charles Wright Academy:

Season record: 13-4

League finish: #1 in 1A Nisqually League

Sets W/L: 42-18

Coach: Mindy McGrath

Mascot: Tarriers

 

Chelan:

Season record: 12-4

League finish: #2 in 1A Caribou Trail League

Sets W/L: 39-13

Coach: Jenifer Rainville

Mascot: Mountain Goats

 

Freeman:

Season record: 14-3

League finish: #2 in 1A Northeast League

Sets W/L: 42-10

Coach: Eva Windlin-Jansen

Mascot: Scotties

 

Goldendale:

Season record: 12-5

League finish: #3 in 1A SCAC West

Sets W/L: 42-24

Coach: Jodi Bellamy

Mascot: Timberwolves

 

King’s:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 (tie) in 1A/2A Cascade Conference

Sets W/L: 46-10

Coach: Jeff Fransen

Mascot: Knights

 

Kiona-Benton:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 (tie) in 1A SCAC East

Sets W/L: 44-10

Coach: Jolene Calzadillas

Mascot: Bears

 

La Center:

Season record: 14-5

League finish: #2 in 1A Trico League

Sets W/L: 47-21

Coach: Cymany OBrien

Mascot: Wildcats

 

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls):

Season record: 16-0

League finish: #1 in 1A Northeast League

Sets W/L: 48-0

Coach: Kara Moffatt

Mascot: Eagles

 

Lynden Christian:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #3 in 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference

Sets W/L: 49-12

Coach: Kim Grycel

Mascot: Lyncs

 

Naches Valley:

Season record: 14-4

League finish: #1 in 1A SCAC West

Sets W/L: 46-20

Coach: Sherri Partlow

Mascot: Rangers

 

Overlake:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 in 1A Emerald City League

Sets W/L: 46-11

Coach: Justice Magraw

Mascot: Owls

 

South Whidbey:

Season record: 15-5

League finish: #3 in 1A/2A Cascade Conference

Sets W/L: 50-15

Coach: Mandy Jones

Mascot: Falcons

 

Bracket:

http://www.olympicleague.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=2451&sport=10

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On to the promised land!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on November 5, 2017| 2 Comments »

   Wolf spikers (l to r) Emma Smith, Ashley Menges and Maya Toomey-Stout are headed to the state tourney. (Kimberly Bepler photo)

   Early in the day, Coupeville volleyball moms were laid-back and carefree. Things would get nerve-wracking later. (Konni Smith photo)

Wolf fans dominated the stands in Tacoma. (Bepler photo)

   JV players showed up to support their varsity counterparts, and get a first-hand view of what they one day want to accomplish. (Smith photo)

   Wolf senior Payton Aparicio celebrates with mom Tami and big sis Sydney. (Bepler photo)

State bound for the first time since 2004. (Photo courtesy Cory Whitmore)

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Two years ago, playing for a different coach, the Coupeville High School volleyball team had its season end early in the district playoffs at the spike-happy hands of Cascade Christian.

Saturday, on the biggest stage they have faced, the six Wolves remaining from that 2015 squad got the big payback.

Knocking off the Cougars in four sets while playing on a neutral court in Tacoma, CHS claimed third-place at the West Central District 3 tourney and punched their ticket to state.

Coming on the heels of a hard-fought four-set loss earlier in the day to Bellevue Christian, the split lifts Coupeville to 13-3, tying the program single-season record for wins.

It also sends the Wolves to Yakima for the first time since 2004.

When Hope Lodell, Payton Aparicio, Kyla Briscoe, Lauren Rose, Katrina McGranahan and Emma Smith — the last of the ’15 team — arrive at the SunDome for the 1A state tourney Nov. 10-11, they will find Castle Rock waiting for them.

Win or lose that first match, they are guaranteed a second match against either King’s or defending state champ Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

But that’s a week away, and Saturday night all second-year Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore could do was smile, smile and smile some more.

The body and brain were exhausted, but the buzz was still pinging a mad path across his nerve endings.

“I’m so proud of this team’s fight and heart throughout the day and especially down the stretch to meet the goal, going to state,” Whitmore said. “I can’t say enough about how hard they have worked, and worked together, to accomplish this milestone.

“So proud of these girls and so happy that they get to see their hard work pay off – such an incredible experience for them and to share that is indescribable.”

Four teams entered the gym at Charles Wright Academy Saturday, with three state slots in play.

The host Tarriers claimed the district title, edging Cascade Christian in five titanic sets before knocking off Bellevue Christian in four.

BC is still the only 1A team Coupeville has lost to this season, but, after being swept in straight sets in a non-conference match early in the year, Saturday’s tourney opener was much more of a pitched battle.

The Vikings slipped away with a 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 win, but had to scrap for every point.

“I thought that we fought incredibly hard and showed a lot of heart when playing them,” Whitmore said. “They have two very strong hitters in the middle and our plan was to keep their attacks low and we did that for the most part.

“We served tough and at time too tough, sending the ball out more often than usual, but when our serving would get consistent, we would go on mini-scoring runs by staying aggressive with our swings and scrambling on defense.”

Sophomore sensation Maya Toomey-Stout and seasoned senior Aparicio paced Coupeville at the service line, each ripping four aces.

McGranahan and Ashley Menges backed them up, lacing three straight-up winners apiece.

When the ball was in play, big-hitting Mikayla Elfrank was the final word, cranking out seven kills to lead a balanced attack.

McGranahan (6), Aparicio (6), Briscoe (4) and Smith (4) all chipped in, as Menges and Rose combined to set up their teammates while sharing time at setter.

When the ball hit the floor, Lodell and Aparicio went low to scrape it back up, each wracking up 12 digs apiece.

While taking a second loss to Bellevue could have been a crippler, the Wolves shrugged it off impressively, returning to the same court fired-up two hours later.

“I was very impressed with this group’s ability to mentally recover from a loss to be in a loser-out situation game,” Whitmore said. “It’s a testament to our experience with a large group having been in that very situation a year before to turn around and come ready to fight for that last spot to state.”

Knowing Cascade Christian was aggressive, the Wolves matched their attack, taking chances and swinging for big play after big play.

While its service game dipped a bit in the second match, Coupeville made up for it with strong play at the net and a refusal to bend to a private school playing much closer to home.

With a large contingent of Cow Town fans making a considerable amount of noise, the Wolves took the opening set 27-25, then slipped a bit, dropping set two 25-20.

Not ruffled in the least, CHS —  maybe channeling a need for revenge, maybe not  — closed things out 25-19, 25-22.

Lodell was “all over the court,” racking up 15 of her team’s 55 digs, while Rose had four aces and eight digs and McGranahan (10 kills) and Smith (8) were a one-two hitting machine.

Aparicio gave her team a bit of everything, collecting 11 digs, two aces and seven kills, including the one that sent Coupeville to state.

The Wolves suited up 12 players Saturday, with Scout Smith, Chelsea Prescott and Emma Mathusek also in uniform. Senior Allison Wenzel was at a prestigious music performance, but will return for state.

Whether they were the six getting a bit of revenge for themselves and 2015 coaches Breanne Smedley and Heidi Wyman, or part of the new wave of players prospering under Whitmore, Chris Smith and Ashley Herndon, every Wolf shares one trait today.

They’re scrappers, they’re winners, and they’re Yakima bound.

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