Coupeville Sports

Jessica Riddle signs on the dotted line.

Jessica Riddle is packin’ up and moving to the state capitol.

Or near it at least, as the former Coupeville High School volleyball and tennis star has signed to play college ball at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.

Riddle, who had two standout years as a Wolf before wrapping her high school career at Anacortes after a family move, was the Northwest Conference MVP as a senior. She also helped lead the Seahawks to back-to-back fifth-place finishes at the 2A state tournament.

The Saints are a private Division II school that plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Riddle will be among the first recruits brought in by new coach Kara Peterson, a four-year letter winner at the University of Washington who has gone on to be one of the state’s most successful high school coaches.

Peterson built the volleyball program at Black Hills High School in Tumwater from the ground up starting in 1997, when the school was created. During her 15 years there, she led her squads to 12 state tournament appearances, including 10 top-eight finishes and was a six-time Coach of the Year pick.

For Riddle, the chance to be play for a competitive program with a strong coach while getting the educational opportunities she was seeking made the deal an easy one.

“I love the campus, it’s small but very nice,” Riddle said. “They also have a good biology program that I’m interested in. And I was able to get academic and athletic scholarship to cover my tuition.”

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Former Wolf volleyball star Michelle Riddle and daughter Bria.

The irrepressible one.

When it comes to volleyball, the name Riddle is big. And it may stay that way for years to come.

Michelle Riddle played three years for Coupeville High School, while lil’ sis Jessica played two, then starred for Anacortes her junior and senior seasons after a family move off-Island.

Now, there’s a new Riddle net star on the way, though it will be a while before she gets there.

Michelle, a 2010 CHS grad, has an adorable one-year-old daughter, Bria, who may follow in the spike-happy footsteps of her mom and aunt some day. But only if she wants it for herself.

“My entire family is big on volleyball, so of course I hope that she follows in our footsteps,” Riddle said. “But I also want her to be her own person, and do what makes her happy.”

Sports always made Michelle happy and she played a ton of them for the Wolves. In addition to her time on the volleyball court with Toni Crebbin, Riddle also played a season each of soccer, softball and basketball.

Away from school, both of the Riddle sisters played club and beach volleyball, as well.

Of all her experiences as an athlete, the ones that will stay with her forever are the ones she got to share with Jessica, she said. They played one season together in the red and black, when Michelle was a senior and Jessica a hard-hitting freshman.

“My best memories I’d have to say we’re during my senior year,” Riddle said. “Not only did I get to play my absolutely favorite sport, volleyball, but I also got to play alongside my sister.”

After transferring to Anacortes, Jessica, who had also starred for the Wolves as a tennis player, made a huge impact for the Seahawks. She led them to back-to-back 5th place finishes at the 2A state tournament while being selected as the Northwest Conference MVP and Skagit Valley Herald player of the year as a senior.

“She’s turned into an outstanding volleyball player, and will be playing at the next level in college,” Riddle said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

While she’s traded in digs and sets for diapers and bottles, it’s a swap Riddle couldn’t be happier about.

“I have a beautiful little girl,” she said. “She has changed my life completely, but definitely for the better.”

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