Kylie Chernikoff was one of four Wolf senior spikers honored Friday night. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
No fear.
After the pandemic forced approximately 237 changes to Senior Night plans, the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad finally was able to give its four 12th graders their moment in the spotlight Friday night.
But, once the festivities were done, cold reality awaited, in the form of a third(!) meeting this season with two-time defending state champ La Conner.
The Braves are a smooth-running wrecking machine, here to ruin your evening with a series of nasty spikes and balls scraped off the floor at the last second, and they haven’t lost a league match in a decade-plus.
And yet, as fearsome as La Conner can be, and as transcendent as their star slugger, sophomore Ellie Marble, is when she’s delivering volcanic lasers from all angles, Coupeville didn’t blink.
The Wolves did eventually lose, falling 25-20, 25-13, 25-20, but they played the Braves as strongly as anyone has during a season in which La Conner has gone 9-0, winning all 27 sets played.
Coupeville is 5-0 against other teams, and has a chance to make it 6-0 when they face Orcas Island in Saturday’s season finale.
Led by seniors Kylie Chernikoff, Maddie Vondrak, Jaimee Masters, and Chelsea Prescott, the Wolves hit the floor Friday like a team ready to make some headlines.
CHS bolted out to a 4-1 lead, punctuated by Chernikoff stuffing a shot at the net, and there were seven ties in the opening set.
Vondrak, the mighty masher with the world’s most-pleasant disposition, had the play of the night, soaring high into the heavens, where she met Marble in solo combat.
Not only did David and Terri’s daughter hold her own against La Conner’s ultimate weapon, but Maddie soundly rejected the incoming spike, sending it right back in her foe’s face for an emphatic “No, ma’am, not now, not ever!”
Toss in a handful of sweet, slicing spikes from Prescott and a gorgeous running tip for a winner from sophomore sensation Jill Prince, and the Wolves were knocking on the door of ending La Conner’s flawless run.
It wasn’t to be, however, as CHS eventually fell, even while holding off two set points.
The middle set was a little more of a letdown, as La Conner jumped on the Wolves quickly and never wavered.
One play stands out, however.
The Braves made a sensational save on a ball seemingly headed for the stands, keeping a rally alive even as Wolf fans had already started to (prematurely) celebrate.
But then Prescott erupted into the air and hit the ball hard enough to cut it in half, spraying a winner right down the heart of the court with enough fury La Conner had no chance at spectacular save #2.
Cue the celebration again.
The night’s final set featured 10 ties, the latest coming at 18-18, though once again La Conner reached down late, found a slightly-different gear and did whatever was necessary to pull away.
Coupeville sophomores Maddie Georges, Lucy Tenore, and Alita Blouin, the latter playing through the pain of a back injury, showcased the grit of the next gen stars, while junior Abby Mulholland ripped a couple nice serves to keep the Braves on their heels.
