Brinn Meek is a fireball on the volleyball court. (James Meek photo)
It was a knock-three-girls-off-their-feet kind of day.
Three times delivering an ace to the face which caused visiting Lakewood players to end up sprawled on the floor, the Coupeville Middle School volleyball spikers delivered a big hit, big energy performance on their home floor Wednesday afternoon.
By the time things were done, pretty much everyone was deaf — but not the pajama-clad baby smart enough to come equipped with ear protection — and the Wolves had a decisive win and two hard-fought losses against a large-school foe.
Level 1:
Coming off a loss to undefeated King’s where a reffing mistake hurt badly, the Wolves top squad showcased its ability to bounce back quickly and decisively.
Romping to a 25-21, 25-18 win, before giving back a practice set 15-10, Coupeville improves to 4-2 on the season.
And the Wolves did so by getting quality work from everyone in uniform.
Leading the way was Josilyn McColl, who left a trail of bodies in her wake, including delivering an ace to the face, the force of the ball knocking the Cougar receiver flat on her back.
It wasn’t the only time McColl, or sister Reagan Green, sent Lakewood players running for cover, as they dominated play at the net, keeping their rivals fidgety all afternoon.
Coupeville pushed out to an early lead thanks to a run at the service line from Reina Rivers, got back-to-back winners at the net from Milly Somes, then snatched the lead for good at 17-16 on a Halle Black ace.
The Wolves used a 13-5 tear to change the flow of the match, with McColl firing BBs on her serve and Green making a miracle save on a ball caught in the net, pulling it back out and keeping the play alive long enough to bait Lakewood into misfiring on a potential kill.
Set #2 was a back-and-forth war, but Somes and Faith Rivers shoved things in Coupeville’s favor with their serving, with Somes delivering a sneaky dart which caressed a Lakewood player’s face as she mistimed her return hit.
Getting winners from three different players in a row, with Black, Arley Bosler, and Brinn Meek shredding the defense, CMS pulled away for good.
Not that McColl was done terrorizing folks, as she had another nasty ace to unleash from her well-stocked arsenal, before Reina Rivers nailed the match-clinching point on a beauty of a one-handed runner, sending the ball kicking off the backline as the gym faithful exploded in glee.
Coming off the high of the win, the Wolves slipped a bit in the unnecessary practice set, falling behind 4-0, rallying to retake the lead at 10-9, then giving up the final six points.
Still, Coupeville saw quality work in the frame from Jasmine Allen, Bosler, and Meek, with the latter two scraping balls off the floor for winners.
Coming for all the wins. (Mandi Black photo)
Level 2:
The score was a bit rough, but there were bright moments along the way for the Wolves.
Lakewood won 25-11, 25-7, 15-3 by largely controlling the match from the service line, though Coupeville responded with its own stellar stripe work at times.
Mia Goers ran off three straight points midway through the first set, with an ace off the back line in the middle of that run, while Abby Hunt got hot late.
CMS held off four set points with Hunt on serve, and the young spiker drew praise from her coach for her all-around play.
“Abby had a very aggressive game and her best one yet,” Mandi Black said.
Set #2 ended fairly quickly, though Kolby Johnson and Lilah Grinstead teamed up to provide some stiff resistance in the late going, while set #3 featured winners at the net from Goers and Johnson.
“Let’s get this party started, ladies!” (David Svien photo)
Level 3:
Playing first, Coupeville’s least experienced team put up one of its best performances of the season, being nipped 25-18, 25-20 in the first two sets, then rebounding to take the final frame 15-9.
Annabelle Wold kicked things off with a nicely hit service ace, before Evelynn McDonald took things to new heights.
She delivered back-to-back points for the Wolves, first with a putaway at the net, then by whacking the stuffing out of the volleyball on a serve which exploded on the Lakewood receiver, hitting her in the chest, then face and sending her toppling to the ground.
That drew the first of many sonic boom roars from the CMS girls in the stands, as they outshouted a very-enthusiastic group of Cougars, creating a “Welcome to Thunderdome” feel in the crowded CMS gym.
Lakewood eventually pulled away to claim the set, but not before the Wolves got a strong service run from River Castellanos, a Zora Worthington slice ‘n dice winner, and a well-placed winner from Selina Milburn to hold off a set point.
The second set featured five ties as Castellanos put on a show, both on her serve and while patrolling the middle of the floor, before the visitors pulled away in the final moments.
Wold and Milburn kept CMS close, and Coupeville again held off set points, giving the Wolves momentum headed into the final set.
Once there, strong serving work from Castellanos, Lily Jacobson, and Worthington, plus hustle plays from Lindsey Ashby pushed their squad ahead early and a Milburn winner late made sure Lakewood wouldn’t pull off any rallies.
What’s next:
Coupeville caps a stretch of three home rumbles in four days when it hosts Sultan Thursday starting at 3:15 PM.
After that, the Wolves wrap the season on the road October 19 against South Whidbey.
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