Lucy Sandahl knows Coupeville volleyball needs two wins at districts to advance to bi-districts. (Brian Vick photo)
Senior setter Scout Smith is ready to lead her team into the fire. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Win, and win, again.
The Coupeville High School volleyball squad, flying high at 13-2, kicks off the postseason Saturday in Lynden needing at least one victory in two matches to keep playing.
Do that, and the Wolves come home next Tuesday, where they will again need at least one win in two matches to advance – this time to bi-districts.
The two-day District 1 tourney features eight schools fighting for five tickets to the District 1/2 bi-district rumble, with the North Sound Conference providing five of the eight competitors.
That’s thanks to NSC #5 seed Sultan dumping Mount Baker, the #4 seed from the Northwest Conference, 3-1 Wednesday in a play-in match.
The biggest shocker in the final days of the regular season was South Whidbey, all but locked-in to a NSC #3 seed, falling on the road to Granite Falls, which entered play 0-9 in league play.
The loss drops the Falcons to a #4 seed, and puts them into the same bracket as #2 seed Coupeville.
For the next-door neighbors to play Saturday, they would both need to win or lose their openers in the morning.
Coupeville plays NWC #3 Nooksack Valley, while South Whidbey gets NWC #1 Lynden Christian.
While those matches are held in Lynden, the other half of the draw goes down Saturday in Shoreline, home of NSC #1 King’s.
The Knights face Sultan in the opener, with NSC #3 Cedar Park Christian lining up against NWC #2 Meridian.
It’ll be the first time these leagues have clashed this season on the volleyball court, as none of the teams crossed over during their non-conference schedules.
A breakdown of what you need to know headed into the two-day, three-city, eight-team district tourney:
What: District 1 volleyball tourney
When: Saturday and Tuesday, Nov. 2 and 5
Where: Saturday – Lynden Christian High School (515 Drayton St. in Lynden) and King’s High School (19303 Fremont Ave. N. in Shoreline); Tuesday – Coupeville High School (501 S Main in Coupeville)
Admission:
Adults and students w/o ASB — $7
Students w/ASB — $5
Children (ages 6-12) and Senior Citizens — $5
Children (0-5) — Free
Bracket:
http://www.nscathletics.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=3120&sport=10
Team capsules:
Cedar Park Christian:
Season record: 10-6
League finish: #3 in 1A North Sound Conference
Sets W/L: 35-28
Coach: Julie Nelson
Seniors: Rachel Cumley, Marci Drews, Irena Korolenko, Kiara Renstrom
Mascot: Eagles
Coupeville:
Season record: 13-2
League finish: #2 in 1A North Sound Conference
Sets W/L: 39-10
Coach: Cory Whitmore
Seniors: Hannah Davidson, Emma Mathusek, Lucy Sandahl, Scout Smith, Maya Toomey-Stout, Zoe Trujillo, Raven Vick, Willow Vick
Mascot: Wolves
King’s:
Season record: 14-0
League finish: #1 in North Sound Conference
Sets W/L: 42-4
Coach: Bart Foley
Seniors: Ellie Gaenz, Alli Hansen, Olivia Hjelle, Ava Mason, Katy Rettenmier
Mascot: Knights
Lynden Christian:
Season record: 10-4
League finish: #1 1A team in 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference
Sets W/L: 33-17
Coach: Kimberly Grycel
Seniors: Brooklyn Bosman, Liv Mellema
Mascot: Lyncs
Meridian:
Season record: 10-5
League finish: #2 1A team in 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference
Sets W/L: 32-23
Coach: Shannon Claeys
Seniors: Ella Carpenter, Makenzie Flake
Mascot: Trojans
Nooksack Valley:
Season record: 8-6
League finish: #3 1A team in 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference
Sets W/L: 29-20
Coach: Katie Emmons
Seniors: Jasmin Harmon, Taylor Loreen, Kimberly Perry
Mascot: Pioneers
South Whidbey:
Season record: 5-9
League finish: #4 in 1A North Sound Conference
Sets W/L: 21-31
Coach: Mandy Jones
Seniors: Arianna Briggs, Alyssa Johnson, Kayla Knauer
Mascot: Falcons
Sultan:
Season record: 7-10
League finish: #5 in 1A North Sound Conference
Sets W/L: 27-37
Coach: Katie Power
Seniors: Talea Blasko, Lindsey Fleming, Madison Hauge, Hollee Seaward, Lydia Sorgen
Mascot: Turks
