Issabel Johnson and Co. are coming for all the wins. (Bailey Thule photo)
The future belongs to them.
As well as the present.
Sending a shockwave across the region, the Coupeville High School JV volleyball squad finally took down the big dogs Tuesday night.
After narrowly falling short in their two previous attempts, the Wolves not only beat visiting La Conner, but they also swept the Braves right out of the CHS gym.
Winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-15, Coupeville’s young guns wrap a season in which they went 8-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 12-2 overall.
The victory also serves notice to La Conner, which has been the undisputed heavyweight champ of the NWL for decades.
While the Braves JV has not been as flawless as the La Conner varsity, you can count the number of league losses the second squad has taken on one hand … and still have most of your fingers left.
Third-year Coupeville JV coach Ashley Menges and her spikers have been getting closer and closer to unseating their big-game rivals, and Tuesday night everything clicked.
The Wolves exploded out of the gate, thanks to Katie Marti, Taylor Brotemarkle, and Teagan Calkins cranking away from the service stripe, while Jada Heaton stalked the net, ready to inflict damage on anything which came her way.
Jada Heaton abuses the volleyball. (Bailey Thule photo)
Up 17-6 at one point, with La Conner’s coaching staff sitting stunned and slumped in their chairs, Coupeville never let the Braves have a moment to consider a comeback.
Two big kills from Calkins, including a buzzsaw of a slicer on set point, sent the Wolf faithful into pandemonium, and they never had a reason to calm down after that.
Set two was a little closer — the Wolves actually trailed early at 6-5 — but once CHS regained the lead, it held fast.
Tip winners from Marti and Calkins helped stretch a one-point lead out to nine points, while Brotemarkle couldn’t be contained as she fired darts and daggers on her serve.
With the win in hand for Coupeville, the teams played a third set for practice — a quirk seemingly reserved for the world of JV volleyball.
Riding an emotional high, then getting a floor-buckling kill from Aby Wood and long service runs from Marti and Johnson, the Wolves kept the joyous fire in their hearts raging.
Oktober Frost came off the bench to delight the crowd with several strong serves, while Heaton mashed the volleyball like it had personally insulted her.
The message was clear, and loudly delivered.
Coupeville’s young spikers are here to dominate, today and tomorrow.
You’ve been warned, world.
Tuesday stats:
Taylor Brotemarkle — 6 digs, 5 aces
Carly Burt — 1 dig
Teagan Calkins — 4 kills, 5 aces
Jada Heaton — 4 kills, 1 assist
Issabel Johnson — 4 kills, 3 digs, 3 aces
Katie Marti — 3 kills, 3 digs, 12 assists, 6 aces
Chloe Marzocca — 2 digs
Grier Mooney — 1 dig, 2 aces
Aby Wood — 2 kills
Aby Wood is all smiles after a strong season. (Bailey Thule photo)
Read Full Post »
