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Posts Tagged ‘Northwest League’

Spike crew still fairly flawless

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on October 3, 2024| 1 Comment »

Wolf seniors Taylor Brotemarkle (2) and Chloe Marzocca celebrate their teammate’s success. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Check another thing off the to-do list.

The Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad is methodically garnering achievements as the season plays out.

The Wolves beat the Evil Empire (La Conner).

Won a battle of undefeated teams with Darrington.

And now have upended Orcas Island, the defending Northwest 2B/1B League champs, sweeping the visiting Vikings in straight sets Thursday.

The Homecoming week win lifts Coupeville to 5-0 in conference action, 6-0 overall, and Cory Whitmore’s squad has yet to lose a set this go-round.

Dominating from start to finish against Orcas, the Wolves claimed a 25-8, 25-13, 25-15 triumph, giving the CHS spike program its best start since the 2019 team won its first seven matches.

Coupeville is also one of just three 2B schools still undefeated this season, with Adna (7-0) and Freeman (8-0) the others.

About the only thing which slowed the Wolves down Thursday was the perils of inter-island transportation, which had Orcas arriving a half hour late for an afternoon tilt.

Once the teams were on the floor and warmed up, the CHS net crew was locked-in and in full-on destruction mode.

A tip winner from Mia Farris kicked off the match, and Coupeville rode hot streaks at the service line from Tenley Stuurmans and Teagan Calkins to blow things wide open.

Calkins, who was honored as an Athlete of the Week winner by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association earlier in the day, dropped a nasty ace on the Vikings, the ball skidding away to stake her squad to a 19-4 lead.

While Orcas briefly (very briefly) rallied, the Wolves closed out the opening frame with a flurry of kills off the scorching fingertips of Farris, Madison McMillan, and Lyla Stuurmans.

The second set was almost a mirror image of the first, with the Wolves peppering the Vikings with brutal serves, popping note-perfect passes to each other, and crushing kills in all directions.

CHS setter Katie Marti, running from one side of the floor to the other, even went renegade at one point, using her leg to keep a ball alive with a soccer-style kick.

The perfectly legal, yet rarely used, play rocked the Orcas defense, or maybe they were just in run-and-hide mode because Marti’s kick was followed 0.02 seconds later by Farris peeling paint off the back line with a juicy kill.

Everyone was getting in on the action, with Jada Heaton walloping a winner at the net, before sophomore Dakota Strong delivered her first-ever varsity kill.

It came on set point and unleashed a tidal wave of joy from the Wolf bench, which mobbed her.

It wasn’t the last time that scene would play out, either, as another sophomore, Lexis Drake, matched Strong by closing out set #3, and the match, with HER first-ever varsity kill.

That winner capped a crush of big hits, with the Wolves taking turns seeing who could spin the nastiest kill against an Orcas squad which lost its All-League masher to graduation after winning last year’s crown.

Madison McMillan launches the attack.

Whitmore, who notched his 94th win with the CHS volleyball program, was pleased to have a low stress win during one of the most frantic weeks on the school calendar.

Now the Wolf spikers can go participate in Homecoming-related events the next two days content in the knowledge they’ll carry a spotless record into the new week.

“We played very, very clean for the first two sets,” Whitmore said. “I think we missed like only two serves in that time.

“We stayed very in system, even when they tried to move us around,” he added.

“There were some errors later, but the girls recognized what was happening, took control, and fixed things on their own. I like to see that.”

 

Thursday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 7 digs
Teagan Calkins — 9 kills, 8 digs, 1 assist, 1 block assist, 4 aces
Lexis Drake — 1 kill
Mia Farris — 9 kills, 13 digs, 1 assist
Jada Heaton — 1 kill
Katie Marti — 3 kills, 7 digs, 27 assists, 2 aces
Madison McMillan — 8 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace
Dakota Strong — 1 kill
Lyla Stuurmans — 4 kills, 5 digs, 2 solo blocks, one block assist
Tenley Stuurmans — 1 kill, 1 dig, 1 ace

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Plan ahead, look back

Posted in standings, tagged , , , , on September 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chloe Marzocca and CHS volleyball are flying high. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Homecoming week is upon us.

While the festivities will draw a lot of attention, there are still games to be played, and three of four Coupeville High School teams will compete on their home turf in the week ahead.

Co-ed soccer is the lone Wolf squad with a bumpy bus ride in their near future, as the booters travel to Bothell Tuesday to face Providence Classical Christian.

Meanwhile, the CHS cross country team hosts its lone home meet Wednesday at Fort Casey State Park.

Freshman Jackson Sollars and the Wolf football squad will carry a 3-1 record into their Homecoming game. (David Somes photo)

The undefeated Wolf volleyball team is at home Thursday for a bout with Orcas Island, while Coupeville’s gridiron squad returns to Mickey Clark Field Friday night.

The foe is Friday Harbor, and as mentioned before, it’s Homecoming, with royalty and whatnot mingling with football.

As Wolf fans prepare for the week ahead, a look at where things sit through Sept. 29:

 

Northwest League boys’ soccer:

School League Overall
Coupeville 0-0-0 2-3-1
CPC-Lynnwood 0-0-0 2-2-0
Friday Harbor 0-0-0 3-1-0
Grace Academy 0-0-0 1-2-0
La Conner 0-0-0 0-3-1
Lopez Island 0-0-0 2-0-0
MV Christian 0-0-0 4-1-1
Orcas Island 0-0-0 4-1-0
PC Christian 0-0-0 3-1-2

 

Northwest League football — (11-Man):

School League Overall
Coupeville 0-0 3-1
Friday Harbor 0-0 2-2

 

Northwest League football — (8-Man):

School League Overall
Concrete 0-0 1-3
Darrington 0-0 3-1
La Conner 0-0 1-2

 

Northwest League volleyball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 4-0 5-0
MV Christian 2-1 4-1
Darrington 1-1 5-2
La Conner 1-1 2-2
Orcas Island 1-1 2-3
Concrete 0-2 4-4
Friday Harbor 0-3 1-5

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Always electrifying, still spotless

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on September 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Taylor Brotemarkle had 11 digs Thursday as Coupeville won a battle of undefeated volleyball teams. (Photo courtesy Kim Brotemarkle)

And then there was one.

A day that started with three teams still unbeaten in Northwest 2B/1B League varsity volleyball action ended with just one squad still spotless.

That team?

Coupeville High School, which pasted visiting Darrington 25-21, 25-11, 25-16 Thursday to get to 4-0 in conference play, 5-0 overall.

The Wolves, who have won all 15 sets they have played in regular season action, are in the driver’s seat right now.

CHS sits a game-and-a-half up on Mount Vernon Christian (2-1) in the NWL, a team they have already beaten in their first meeting.

After that, it’s a logjam, with Darrington, La Conner, and Orcas Island all at 1-1, while Concrete is 0-2 and Friday Harbor 0-3.

Coupeville is off until next Thursday, Oct. 3, when it hosts Orcas.

While the Wolves still have six league matches left, the week that was, was pretty dang spiffy.

Coming off a straight-sets road win over the Evil Empire (La Conner), Coupeville welcomed Darrington to town for the lone meeting this season between the schools.

The Loggers, one of two 1B schools in the conference, were 5-0 overall entering the night, and feature some lanky big hitters who can drop the thunder and the lightning.

To which the Wolves said, you ain’t seen nothing yet, with Katie Marti bounding from one side of the court to the other, zipping passes to her weaponized snipers.

Mia Farris uncorked nuclear blasts from both fists.

Lyla Stuurmans tried to rip divots in the gym floor.

Madison McMillan mashed like a magnificent maniac.

And then they unleashed “The Red Dragon,” with Teagan Calkins spraying a career-high 19 winners to make the spines of the Darrington players run cold with fear.

Madison McMillan was superb in all aspects of the game. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The first set was a battle royale, just as expected, with the teams staying within a point of each other all the way until Coupeville found itself clinging to a 17-16 lead.

Enter McMillan, who strode to the service line, rolled the ball between her hands, looked up into the stands to make sure Grandpa Gordon was watching from above, and then delivered the goods.

A six-point run on her serve — punctuated by running mate Stuurmans thrashing the snot out of the ball on a winner which zipped over the heads of the Loggers, then plunged down and bit the back line — was the difference.

Darrington had no answer for McMillan’s artful work from the line, and the Wolves seized the moment.

Marti had two Logger-busting service runs in the second set, while McMillan added another one of her own, and Coupeville made short work of the middle frame.

Calkins and Farris took turns busting the defense (and the sound barrier) with window-rattling kills, while Jada Heaton kept things interesting by flicking a sweet winner that snuck over the net by the thinnest of margins.

Meanwhile Marti was on her horse, running down everything, ensuring no volleyball would escape on this night, no matter how far out of bounds it was headed when she caught up to it.

She and her teammates kept numerous plays alive, denying Darrington too many easy winners, then struck with a cold fury when given the chance to end a play themselves.

The Loggers, who entered the night ranked #3 among 1B teams by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, showed great potential and improvement from previous seasons.

But the Wolves, a senior-dominated team intent on making one final fantastic run, were too much for the visitors to overcome.

Darrington hung tough in the third set, but had no answer for plays such as the one where Stuurmans crashed to the floor to pluck a ball off the hardwood, which then set up another winner from the rampaging Calkins.

Farris let loose with a string of spikes to close things out, with the final point of the evening coming from Stuurmans, who laced a winner off the last fleck of paint on the backline.

Homecoming proposals were on the menu. (Photo courtesy Jennifer Marzocca)

As people celebrated around him, and Homecoming proposals rained down, CHS coach Cory Whitmore surveyed the scene with a smile.

“I’m really proud of the whole team,” he said. “We ran two different defenses, a different one for each of their big hitters, and everyone played their roles.

“Our first ball contact was really strong, and we looked confident against tough servers,” Whitmore added. “Just a strong night all around.”

 

Thursday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 1 kill, 11 digs, 1 assist
Teagan Calkins — 19 kills, 6 digs, 1 ace
Mia Farris — 9 kills, 11 digs, 1 assist, 2 aces
Jada Heaton — 2 kills
Katie Marti — 1 kill, 10 digs, 35 assists, 2 aces
Madison McMillan — 4 kills, 11 digs, 2 aces
Lyla Stuurmans — 7 kills, 2 digs, 2 assists, 1 solo block, 2 aces

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Rainy day run for Wolf harriers

Posted in Cross Country, tagged , , , , , on September 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Devon Wyman (left) and Ivy Rudat charge up a hill. (Elizabeth Bitting photos)

The rain fell on the plain, but mainly, it fell on their heads.

Returning to Orcas Island Wednesday, the Coupeville High School cross country team endured a damp day while taking part in a four-school race.

The Wolves lined up with Friday Harbor, Mount Vernon Christian, and their hosts for an event which featured one race — boys and girls combined, taking off from the same start line.

The 5,000-meter course offered a variety of experiences, said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting.

“A true cross country course,” she said. “So much diverse terrain, literally across railroad tracks.

“It rained right up until race time, then started raining again as the race started, but they were happy to be back on Orcas, as it was cancelled last year.”

It’s a two-fer week for the Wolf runners, who hit the road again this Saturday, travelling to Seattle, where they will compete in the King’s Roller Coaster Run.

Thomas Strelow goes for the burn.

 

Wednesday results:

 

GIRLS:

Mikayla Wagner – 25:42.00
Noelle Western – 25:52.1
Kayla Crane – 26:24.1
Aleera Kent – 26:27.8
Devon Wyman – 26:45.3
Ivy Rudat – 26:47.8
Aleksia Jump – 27:09.0
Ari Armstrong – 27:42.8
Reagan Callahan – 28:49.8
Jeann Nitta – 31:00.9
Dahlia Miller – 31:26.7
Ava Lucero – 31:34.3
Mary Western – 38:14.9

 

BOYS:

Carson Field – 19:39.1
Landon Roberts – 19:46.8
Ezekiel Allen – 19:53.4
Kenneth Jacobsen – 19:57.2
George Spear – 20:31.4
Thomas Strelow – 20:56.8
Isaiah Allen – 22:03.6
Beckett Green – 22:22.8
Ethan Walling – 23:06.5
Will Tierney – 23:51.8
Johnathan Jacobsen – 25:40.2
Zach Blitch – 33:34.9

One race, one start line.

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“I’m really proud of the entire team!”

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on September 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Wolves stand strong at the net. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Times have changed.

For a very long time, La Conner High School volleyball was the beast of the Northwest 2B/1B League, a virtually unstoppable hitting machine that never lost in conference play.

Like never-ever for a decade-plus.

But times have changed.

Taking control of their own destiny, Coupeville’s varsity spikers strolled into La Conner’s gym Tuesday and seized the title of the new big-bad on the block.

Whacking the Braves 25-14, 25-19, 25-15, the Wolves hand their nemesis a loss in league play for the second-straight season.

CHS also gets to 3-0 in conference action, 4-0 overall, and has yet to drop a set.

Tuesday’s win sets up a major rumble Thursday, when fellow unbeaten Darrington (1-0, 5-0) visits Coupeville.

It’s the only time the Wolves will face the Loggers this season, as Cory Whitmore’s squad plays twice against the other four 2B schools in the NWL, but just once against 1B rivals Concrete and Darrington.

But that titanic tilt is still two days away.

For now, the Wolves can bask in the afterglow of a definitive win, achieved in the gym where a dynasty was built.

“It was a fun night on the road, and pretty exciting to get the win on their home court and do it in three,” Whitmore said.

“For the most part, we played pretty clean, which is what made up most of our scouting report.”

Coupeville knows its history, and the Wolves came prepared.

“We knew that their identity was to limit errors and attack smart,” Whitmore said.

“Our scouting report was to anticipate stuff going wide and be ready to outlast them until we can be in-rhythm to attack full-force.

“A La Conner team is going to make you earn your points and we did just that.”

The victory was a true team win, from the players on the floor, to the players who sell out every practice getting their compatriots primed for action.

“I’m really proud of the entire team,” Whitmore said. “Each did their role when called upon and I thought we also made small adjustments really well; our experience really showed tonight.

“I have to give an early shoutout to Chloe Marzocca, Aby Wood, and Carly Burt – they are a big part of getting ready, and so while they may not always see the court on gameday, their work is essential for us to be successful.”

Katie Marti directs traffic.

Wolf setter Katie Marti “did a great job of mixing up our hitting options when needed but also making the smart set for the highest pay off,” something which really drove the offense.

Popping note-perfect passes to her mighty mashers, who came in swinging hot ‘n heavy, the ever-peppy senior kept Coupeville on the attack, and La Conner on the defensive.

Given the chance to pound the ball, the Wolf big hitters did just that.

“Lyla (Stuurmans) and Teagan (Calkins) led the way with kills, but it was also their protection of the ball that made them so successful,” Whitmore said.

“Just those two combined for a .426 attack efficiency,” he added.

“It is impossible to be able to run through the middle (Lyla) and get the ball to the right side (Teagan) without really strong passing, and this is where we also excelled.”

Taylor Brotemarkle gets low to scrape a ball off the floor.

Putting the cherry on the sundae was the team’s nearly flawless work at the service stripe.

“A clean service game, committing only four service errors, helped to start off our defense in a strong position,” Whitmore said.

Now it’s on to the next match, always with an eye on improving, and maintaining their hot start.

“As a coaching staff, we have identified a couple areas that we could stand to improve upon,” Whitmore said.

“But the girls can be proud of having made this step, and we’ll now set our sights on preparing for Darrington on Thursday.”

 

Schedule change:

An issue with the ferry system has erased a non-conference road trip to Forks, originally set for Sept. 30.

The Wolf varsity will replace that rumble with a showdown with Okanogan Oct. 11 at Liberty High School in Spangle.

Coupeville was already traveling that direction, as it is slated to play in the Liberty Tournament the next day.

 

Tuesday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 5 digs
Teagan Calkins — 11 kills, 4 digs, 1 block assist, 3 aces
Mia Farris — 6 kills, 13 digs, 1 ace
Jada Heaton — 1 kill, 2 digs, 1 ace
Katie Marti — 2 kills, 9 digs, 33 assists
Madison McMillan — 7 kills, 13 digs, 2 aces
Lyla Stuurmans — 14 kills, 8 digs, 1 assist, 1 block assist, 5 aces
Tenley Stuurmans — 1 ace

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