Issabel Johnson delivered three service aces Tuesday to help Coupeville capture a straight-sets win. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
High school sports are larger than life, until they’re not.
Tuesday night the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball team rolled to its third-straight win, sweeping visiting Concrete off the floor.
The reaction to the 25-16, 25-14, 25-6 victory quickly became muted, however, as Lion coach Kevik Rensink gathered his players to inform them a classmate died earlier in the day after a car accident.
The young man lived in the same neighborhood as the Concrete coach, and his death comes just months after that school’s superintendent died after crashing into a tree.
Coupeville players and coaches joined their Concrete counterparts to the side of the floor, trying in some small way to ease their pain before the Lions departed for the trip back home.
Wolf team moms traditionally give road snacks to visiting players, and this time was no different, except for being delivered with quiet words of comfort.
Coming on the same night that Coupeville held its annual Dig Pink night to raise funds for those battling breast cancer, the events offer a stark reminder that there are things which matter far more than wins and losses.
“We feel for Kevik and his players, and everyone in Concrete,” said Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore.
“This is going to be a hard time for all involved, and we wanted to make sure they had what they needed before getting home safely.”
CHS coach Cory Whitmore lays out some strategy for his players. (Jackie Saia photo)
The match itself was a fast-moving one, as Coupeville dominated play from start to finish.
The Wolves never trailed, jumping out to 5-0, 2-0, and 8-0 leads across the three sets, with just one tie at 2-2 (very) early in the middle frame.
Coupeville’s spikers, while not playing flawlessly — perhaps distracted a bit by Homecoming week activities — were still able to flip the switch every time they needed to do so.
The Wolves peppered Concrete with precision serves, racking up 14 aces and keeping the Lions from mounting much of a resistance off of their returns.
Once the ball was in play, big hitters Lyla Stuurmans, Grey Peabody, Teagan Calkins, and Mia Farris took turns cranking winners out of the reach of their rivals.
Stuurmans, showing some serious hops, bounded across the court, slicing in from both sides to smash the air out of the ball, while Peabody was a particular force on defense, snuffing out many of Concrete’s best shots.
While everyone lurking around the net contributed, none was happier to do so than Jada Heaton.
The team spark plug delivered back-to-back kills in the second set, then came back around to crunch some more balls in the final frame, a giddy smile on her face as she continues to live her best life.
“I am Jada! Hear me roar!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Now 2-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League action, 4-4 overall after earning Cory Whitmore his 80th win as head coach at CHS, the Wolves return to action Thursday when they welcome Mount Vernon Christian to Whidbey.
JV tips at 5:00 PM, varsity at 6:30.
Tuesday stats:
Taylor Brotemarkle — 3 digs
Teagan Calkins — 5 kills, 1 ace
Mia Farris — 6 kills, 7 digs, 1 assist, 1 ace
Jada Heaton — 4 kills, 1 assist
Issabel Johnson — 3 aces
Katie Marti — 4 kills, 2 digs, 24 assists, 5 aces, 1 block assist
Madison McMillan — 8 digs, 2 assists, 1 ace
Grey Peabody — 5 kills, 1 assist, 1 block assist
Lyla Stuurmans — 10 kills, 5 digs, 3 aces, 1 solo block
Coupeville Sports 