When Payton Aparicio hits a ball, it stays hit. (Katrina McGranahan photo)
You’ll stay up there … and you’ll like it! (Photo courtesy Amy King)
Payton Aparicio is the early frontrunner in the contest for most spectacular hit of the volleyball season.
Playing in her first high school match Tuesday at South Whidbey, the Coupeville High School freshman lofted the ball high into the rafters, and it never, ever came down.
While she and her teammates waited for the black and white ball to bounce down — teams can play a ball that bounces off the rafters — it never reappeared.
Instead, it rolled along one of the gym beams and then skidded to a stop and sat motionless.
For all eternity.
“Everyone had a little giggle about it and it was there when we left the gym at the end of the night,” said Wolf JV coach Amy King. “That was the highlight of our match.”
The rest of the night wasn’t as light-hearted for Coupeville’s JV squad, which fell 25-9, 25-13, 25-6 in its first match of the season.
“They were outmatched by a very strong, very aggressive and older South Whidbey team,” King said. “This group has a ton of potential, we have worked on their offense, defense, court movement and all of their skills. All I can do is continue looking for the group who will work together on the court and show what they really can do.
“We had a few really good rallies, but when it came down to it, we didn’t hit like we have in practice or even in the jamboree,” she added. “The court was quiet, feet weren’t moving and it just seemed that we were either extremely nervous or tired, and I’m sure it was not that we were tired.”
Serving was a highlight, with Allison Wenzel and Hope Lodell both launching ace serves, while “Lauren Grove was moving well on the court, as was Brittany Powers, trying to spark our offense.”
Coupeville Sports 