Maddie Vondrak smoked seven kills Tuesday as 1A Coupeville toppled 2A Anacortes in volleyball action. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Lucy Sandahl (8) and Zoe Trujillo both played strongly for a Wolf team which got big contributions from everyone on the roster. (Brian Vick photo)
When you’re knocking down big trees, you bring your best axe.
Big 2A Anacortes High School features six players on its varsity volleyball roster who stand behind 5-foot-10 and 6’1.
Lil’ 1A Coupeville … does not.
But it mattered not Tuesday, as the Wolves carved up their taller foes, heading back to the bus with a 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17 victory.
The non-conference win lifts Coupeville to a pristine 2-0 heading into its home opener Saturday against Chimacum.
Its the fourth-straight season, all under the guidance of Cory Whitmore, that the Wolf spikers have opened a season with multiple wins.
Coupeville has gone 2-0, 2-0, and 5-0 to start the previous three campaigns.
The key to knocking off Anacortes for a second-straight year was showing no fear.
“We aren’t strangers to being the shorter of two teams on the court, but the height difference between us and Anacortes these last two seasons has been noticeable,” Whitmore said. “I’m really proud of the way that this team didn’t let something like taller players kill their tenacity and heart.”
What the Wolves might lack in height is more than made up for in talent and desire.
Embrace what you are, instead of worrying about what you aren’t.
“It was important for us to start to build and develop on our identity tonight,” Whitmore said. “We served very tough, which pushed their strong hitters off the net and it was our stable defense that allowed us to transition points our way.”
“All six of our serving rotations were strong and that was important for us to rack up some aces, or at the very least push their hitters off the net turning defense into offense.”
Coupeville spread out the love at the service stripe, with Lucy Sandahl and Scout Smith leading the way with three aces each.
Raven Vick (2), Maya Toomey-Stout (2), Hannah Davidson (1), and Chelsea Prescott (1) all chipped in to the ace parade as well.
That style of play, of each Wolf on the floor doing their part to form a powerful nucleus, left their coach wearing a smile.
“Tonight was especially fun, because we had huge contributions from a lot of different players,” Whitmore said.
“We expect a lot from Maya, Hannah, and Scout, both offensively and defensively, so for them to perform is always huge,” he added. “But I was especially impressed with Chelsea, Zoe Trujillo and Maddie Vondrak’s offensive efficiency.
“All three took advantage of their opportunities and it will be big for us to establish them as offensive threats.”
Mixing and matching players, the Wolf coach hit pay dirt with almost every lineup.
“Lucy and Raven Vick (also) came in and played very key roles, serving and defense,” Whitmore said. “I’m really proud of the balanced nature of this win.”
The stat sheet was bursting by the end of the match, with Smith (35 assists) and Toomey-Stout (13 kills and 21 digs) pacing their squad.
Emma Mathusek went low for 15 digs, while Prescott (nine kills, seven digs), Trujillo (eight kills), Davidson (eight kills), Vondrak (seven kills), and Sandahl (five digs) all played at the top of their games.
The Wolves controlled the net, with Smith, Prescott, and Vondrak collecting solo blocks.
As Coupeville heads back to Whidbey to start a three-game home stand, Whitmore and crew are ready for the challenges ahead.
“Plenty that we need to tighten up and situations we’ll need to prepare for,” he said. “But this was a big team effort and a confidence booster.”
