Jada Heaton (12) and Katie Marti exit Lacey with a playoff victory. (Jennifer Heaton photo)
Rankings? What rankings?
The RPI numbers compiled by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association would have you believe Northwest Christian of Lacey is better than Coupeville on the volleyball court.
Reality says otherwise.
Playing 80+ miles down the road from Whidbey Island Monday, the Wolf spikers overcame the mid-match loss of their top hitter to bounce their hosts in the opening round of the 2B District 1/2 tourney.
Holding on for a 25-23, 25-15, 21-25, 25-23 victory, Coupeville stretches its winning streak to 10 straight matches and advances to the district championship rumble.
It also pushes the Wolves one win away from clinching their first trip to state since 2017 — and Cory Whitmore’s squad will have two shots at punching that ticket, if they need them.
CHS, now 11-4, next faces four-time defending state champ La Conner (11-7), which swept Auburn Adventist Academy 3-0 Monday night.
After taking Halloween off, the four teams reconvene in La Conner Wednesday night.
NW Christian (14-3) and Auburn (13-7) play a loser-out match at 3:30, followed by Coupeville squaring off with its Northwest 2B/1B League rival — which it beat last week on Senior Night — at 5:15 in a winner-to-state contest.
The winner of Wednesday’s first match plays the loser of match #2 for a trip to state at 7 PM, with two teams advancing from districts to the big dance in Yakima.
To see the bracket, pop over to:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4102
The biggest question for Coupeville heading into the district title match will be the status of junior outside hitter Lyla Stuurmans.
“The Franchise,” who leads the Wolves with 152 kills, went hard to the floor late in the second set, hurting her ankle.
Lyla Stuurmans, AKA The Kill Queen. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
NW Christian, despite hosting a playoff contest, not only didn’t have any medical personnel on scene, but didn’t seem to even have a person capable of getting ice for the injured Stuurmans.
She was tended to by her coach, Cory Whitmore, then eventually carried to the sideline by dad Scott, while the locals did diddly and squat, other than stare blankly into the abyss and whistle to themselves.
It, frankly, was not a good look for the private school, and a reminder that back in Coupeville, thanks to the donations of countless parents and fans, we are WAY ahead of the curve by having an active athletic trainer at our games.
Stuurmans was lost with Coupeville leading 21-13 in the second set, but Teagan Calkins stepped up smartly to fill the gap left by her hard-hitting elder.
The sophomore sensation rattled the teeth of everyone in the gym, collecting three kills on the next four points to push the Wolves to the edge of victory.
That burst of raw energy and passion carried over the remainder of the match.
“Teagan did a phenomenal job playing all the way around for set three and four — something she has not done at the varsity level in her career,” Whitmore said.
“So I’m really proud of her being ready – she’s been preparing every day in practice.”
Teagan Calkins, ready for the spotlight. (Jackie Saia photo)
The eruption from Calkins set up Mia Farris, in full-on masher mode, as the electric junior delivered a staggering kill on set point, just as she did to close set one.
While he didn’t want to lose his main assassin, Whitmore was pleased with how her teammates came together to replace Stuurmans on the floor.
That ranged from fellow starters like Madison McMillan to the team’s invaluable role players.
“Madison elevated her game defensively, covering more court than we’ve seen her do,” Whitmore said.
“I was really proud of her tenacity on the dig and control taking the second ball occasionally.
“Chloe (Marzocca) was ready to go and chipped in, playing for Lyla at the end of the second and serving up a good ball, and Issabel (Johnson) has been humble and patient, and was ready when her name was called too.
“She quickly adapted to a new role and still came on strong with the serve.”
That opening frame was a masterpiece of giving both coaches a case of angina, as one team surged, then the other.
NW Christian built an 8-3 lead, Coupeville matched the fury with a torrid 12-2 run, then the hosts ripped off 10 straight points.
A 15-10 lead melted into a potential disaster, with the Wolves suddenly down 22-17 and looking a little frayed.
But not afraid, as they kicked things right back into gear, closing the set on an 8-1 surge.
Stuurmans tore off one arm with a savage kill down the line, then ripped off a different rival appendage thanks to a crispy ace which fried everyone in its way.
Coupeville then crossed up its rivals, flicking several softer, but still just as nasty, winners just out of the range of pesky fingers.
Farris dropped a slow roller in between a thicket of players, Grey Peabody softly soared to connect on two elegant tips, then Farris reawakened the savage within with a set-closing kill which hushed the host crowd as the fans gasped in awe.
Senior Grey Peabody delivered “some really incredible moments” Monday night, said Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore. (Kaitlyn Leavell photo)
The second set was powered by a long, successful run at the service stripe from McMillan, who was locked ‘n loaded all night long.
Up 2-0, the Wolves, even with Stuurmans on the bench with her leg propped up, looked like it would roll to a sweep.
McMillan continued her assault from the service line, Farris sprayed winners from every angle in the gym, and CHS went up 19-15.
But give NW Christian credit for being scrappy and having no quit, as the Wolverines fought back to end the frame on a 10-2 run.
That set up a fourth set with eight ties, and a ton more of those back-and-forth surges.
The hosts were clinging to a 17-16 lead when Coupeville sparkplug Katie Marti made her move, effectively ending things.
Running off seven straight points on her serves, she got help from Jada Heaton and Farris at the net and flipped the script for good, guiding CHS to a 23-17 lead and sending local fans scrambling for the exit.
Before they could get the door to the gym open, Farris closed it with a bang, delivering one last huge spike to notch the deciding point in all three sets won by Coupeville.
Mia Farris was born to be a winner. (Photo by JohnPhotos.net)
“Mia was terrific tonight, next level owning the space on defense and serve receive, and absolutely demanding the ball on the attack,” Whitmore said.
“So consistent but very courageous, ripping on the ball. She was an example of “playing to win, not playing to not-lose.”
Never more so than at crunch time.
“A less confident player may have rolled or tipped the ball on match point, but she lined up and buried the ball from the back row attack,” Whitmore said.
“A core memory right there.”
In the aftermath, Whitmore could let out the pent-up breath and enjoy the long ride home.
“Very happy to get out of there with a win,” he said. “I’m so incredibly proud for what this group has to accomplish on the fly.”
Monday stats:
Taylor Brotemarkle — 6 digs
Teagan Calkins — 6 kills, 4 digs, 1 ace
Mia Farris — 14 kills, 21 digs, 2 aces
Jada Heaton — 1 kill, 2 assists, 1 solo block, 2 block assists
Issabel Johnson — 2 aces
Katie Marti — 2 kills, 4 digs, 24 assists, 5 aces, 1 block assist
Madison McMillan — 1 kill, 25 digs, 3 assists, 6 aces
Grey Peabody — 8 kills, 3 solo blocks, 1 block assist
Lyla Stuurmans — 7 kills, 8 digs, 1 ace, 1 block assist
Coupeville Sports 