Grey Peabody helped spark Coupeville to a straight-sets win over Friday Harbor in the season opener. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The streak lives.
Since returning to the Northwest 2B/1B League in 2020, the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball team has lost to only one conference rival — three-time defending state champ La Conner.
Prepping for another run at the Braves, the Wolves opened a new season Thursday by proving once again they will be worthy contenders.
With several players claiming key new positions in the rotation, Coupeville dominated on its home floor, waxing visiting Friday Harbor 25-5, 25-12, 25-12.
The Wolves trailed exactly once in the match, and that was at 1-0 to open the second set.
Other than that, CHS was in control at every moment, something coach Cory Whitmore was pleased to see.
“We had good energy and communication, from the first point of the first set through to the last point of the match,” he said.
Whitmore praised the all-around play of senior leaders Maddie Georges and Alita Blouin, who kept the Wolf offense humming all night.
“I was very excited by our service return; Alita was all over the court,” he said. “That allowed our hitters to get on their routes, and Maddie was squaring up and delivering fastballs to them.”
Coupeville stormed out to a quick 5-0 lead with Georges firing off precision serves, and never looked back in the opening set.
The Wolves spread their kills out all evening, and the opening salvo was a stirring demonstration of what was to come.
Jill Prince, Ryanne Knoblich, Mia Farris, and Grey Peabody all delivered winners at the net, overpowering their opponents, while Lyla Stuurmans bounded high to collect a resounding, crowd-pleasing block.
Everything was working for the Wolves, whether it was Taygin Jump stalking the service line, or Madison McMillan closing the set with her own quietly ferocious aces.
If Friday Harbor saw a brief ray of sunshine up 1-0 in the middle set, that was quickly crushed by Prince unloading a roundhouse winner which made mom Jennie sit up and applaud.
Georges delivered another long run on serve to push CHS way out in front, but it was at the net where the Wolves really earned their cheers.
Regardless of how the lineup shuffled, whatever mix of Coupeville players who ended in the forward position were on their toes, and ready to beat the stuffing out of the ball.
Friday Harbor scrambled and fought, trying to keep rallies going, but the Wolverines had few answers for the laser blasts splashing down to their left and right.
Ending the night with a bang, Coupeville put together a crisp third set that featured more precision serves (Georges and Blouin led the way) and more big hits (Stuurmans and Peabody crunching in tandem).
The final punctuation note came from sophomore Jada Heaton, making her varsity debut and closing the match with an ace which hit hardwood and zipped away from a flailing rival.
Whitmore was able to get floor time for his bench as well as his starters, another huge positive on opening night.
“It was fun to get everyone in where we could, and they all contributed,” he said.
Stats:
Alita Blouin — 1 assist, 2 aces
Mia Farris — 6 kills
Maddie Georges — 4 assists, 6 aces
Jada Heaton — 1 kill, 2 aces
Ryanne Knoblich — 4 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace
Madison McMillan — 2 aces
Grey Peabody — 5 kills
Jill Prince — 4 kills
Lyla Stuurmans — 5 kills, 1 solo block, 1 ace
