15-0 and rolling! (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Halfway to state, all the way to history.
Playing on its home court for the final time in 2024, the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad opened the two-night bi-district tourney with a vengeance Thursday.
Obliterating visiting La Conner 25-12, 25-10, 25-14, the Wolves get to 15-0, establishing a program record for most wins in a single season.
The previous mark of 14 was jointly held by the 2004 and 2019 CHS teams.
Also, fast fact — out of 385 high schools playing volleyball in the state of Washington, Coupeville is one of just eight still undefeated as of Nov. 7.
The others are Curtis, Wenatchee, and Kennedy Catholic in 4A, White River in 3A, Chelan (with former Wolf Grace Roberts) in 1A, Adna in 2B, and Oakesdale in 1B.
Anyway, back to the main story.
Now, the Wolves advance to the bi-district championship match Saturday at La Conner High School, where they will face Orcas Island (12-8), a school they have swept in straight sets twice this season.
Win that 4:00 PM match and Coupeville collects a trophy and heads to the state tourney for a second straight year and third time under coach Cory Whitmore.
Lose, and the Wolves return to the floor at 8:00 PM to play the survivor of a 6:00 PM match between La Conner (10-9) and Auburn Adventist Academy (4-12).
The late rumble will decide the second team from the District 1/2 tourney to earn a berth at state.
You can see the bracket here:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4487
Bi-Districts began Thursday with action in Coupeville and Auburn, with the top-seeded Wolves being joined by District 1’s #3 team, La Conner, and District 2’s #3 squad, Forest Ridge.
The Braves made quick work of the Ravens, winning a loser-out match 25-8, 25-6, 25-6, before losing for the third time this season to the rampaging Wolves.
Coupeville, which features seven seniors, came out on fire and never relented.
“I want this one!” said Wolf setter Katie Marti during pre-game warmups, and whether she meant the one assist she needed to reach 1,000 for her career, or the win, the exuberant one achieved both goals.
Back-to-back kills from heavy hitters Lyla Stuurmans and Mia Farris staked the Wolves to a 2-1 lead in the opening set, and the rout was on.
Mia Farris and her proud mama.
Farris, who recorded a double-double (14 kills, 10 digs) in her final volleyball match on her home floor, was a wild woman unleashed, lashing winners from all angles.
“You’re gonna miss us later,” “Mia the Magnificent” wistfully told CHS assistant coach Ashley Menges during the post-match celebration, before both women agreed to put off any sustained tears for a later day.
While the Coupeville seniors will practice, but not play, in their own gym from this point on, there’s still much road volleyball left.
But before they left the comfort of their own digs, the Wolves wowed their fervent fans one more time.
They closed the first set on an absolute heater, with Marti flipping a winner between Brave defenders, followed by Stuurmans and Farris walloping the stuffing out of the ball.
Lyla Stuurmans elevates and destroys.
Set #2 was even more brutal, with junior Teagan Calkins stepping into the fray and slicin’ and dicin’ La Conner’s best defensive efforts.
Spraying kills before storming away to celebrate, “The Red Dragon” led a team-wide effort to use and abuse the Braves.
Whether it was Madison McMillan popping a nasty winner from the corner, Jada Heaton rising up to heroically deny La Conner at the net, or steady senior Taylor Brotemarkle and fab frosh Tenley Stuurmans digging balls off the ground, everything was clicking.
Chloe Marzocca and Dakota Strong joined the fun parade in the third set, with the former patrolling the backline and the latter springing off the bench to deliver her second match-ending kill of the season.
Lyla Stuurmans, who was a blocking machine at the net, denied the La Conner hitters again and again, while also getting a tip winner on a play set up by a sensational running save by Marti.
Whether piling up stats or making the unsung hustle plays, Christi Messner’s favorite child earned praise from her coach. And she wasn’t the only one.
“Katie had a great game tonight,” said Wolf spiker guru Cory Whitmore. “She was focused and communicated really well.
“Mia was on fire as well, very fluid and always in the moment.
“We protected the net, and our defense was very solid all night,” Whitmore added. “Our serving was tougher, and all the girls contributed in their roles and were on the same page.
“I’m very proud of them.”
Thursday stats:
Taylor Brotemarkle — 2 digs, 1 assist
Teagan Calkins — 11 kills, 3 digs, 2 aces
Mia Farris — 14 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace
Jada Heaton — 2 kills, 1 dig
Katie Marti — 2 kills, 2 digs, 30 assists, 6 aces
Madison McMillan — 4 kills, 12 digs, 1 assist, 3 aces
Dakota Strong — 1 kill
Lyla Stuurmans — 5 kills, 5 digs, 1 assist, 4 solo blocks
Tenley Stuurmans — 6 digs, 1 assist
Coupeville Sports 