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Haylee Armstrong and friends are two matches into a new season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Growth, every day.

That’s the goal for Coupeville Middle School volleyball coaches Cris Matochi and Katie Kiel as they shepherd their young spikers through the season.

And while both Wolf squads fell at Sultan Wednesday, dropping their records to 0-2, growth was just what they saw.

“I think that this game the girls really came together as a team,” Kiel said. “While we didn’t come away with a win, we did come away with plenty of learning opportunities and areas to improve on.

“We still had some pre-game jitters but that quickly worked itself out.”

Coupeville wraps up a three-match road trip with a journey to Shoreline this coming Monday, Oct. 11 to play King’s, then gets three-straight at home.

“I think that the girls will continue to progress throughout the season, and I’m excited to see how we do against King’s,” Kiel said. “We have two days to get ready, and I have no doubt that this team will give King’s a run for their money.”

As the Wolves progress through the season, their coaches are preaching focusing on the positive aspects of their journey.

“Coach Cris and I have been encouraging not only “positive self talk” but “positive team talk” as well,” Kiel said.

“Volleyball starts in the mind, and if we’re mentally ready, then getting physically ready is a piece of cake.”

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Maddie Georges played strongly Wednesday, but Coupeville couldn’t topple La Conner. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They’re a solid #2.

In the season-and-a-half since rejoining the Northwest 2B/1B League, the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball team has played 16 matches against conference foes, going 12-4.

That’s 12-0 vs. the combined forces of Friday Harbor, Concrete, Darrington, Mount Vernon Christian, and Orcas Island.

And, after a road loss Wednesday, 0-4 against two-time defending state champs La Conner, which hasn’t lost a league tilt in a decade-plus, or dropped a set in any kind of match since Covid first arrived.

The Braves, anchored by junior Ellie Marble — well on her way to a third-straight league MVP season — are big hitters, dynamic passers, and high IQ athletes.

Hence Wednesday’s 25-12, 25-11, 25-18 win, which lifts La Conner to 7-0 in league play, 8-0 overall.

Coupeville, which is off until a trip to Orcas Oct. 12, is 6-1 in NWL competition, 6-3 overall.

While the Wolves are chasing the Braves — just like every other 2B program in the state — they are putting up a strong fight.

There were moments in Wednesday’s match when young Wolves like freshman Savina Wells cracked off some lightning bolts which hit and exploded with fury.

Also, a lot of hustle, as Alita Blouin, Maddie Georges, and Co. hit the floor in pursuit of incoming balls, kept plays alive, and refused to go quietly.

But, ultimately, La Conner’s impressive net game proved hard to handle, giving Braves fans much to enjoy.

Still, even in defeat, Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore found positives.

“It was a bit rough at times, but La Conner is as-advertised, and at least had to earn their points,” he said. “When given the chance, we had few attack errors and service errors, which is more progress.

“The third set was stronger being that there were more rallies and defensive chases,” Whitmore added. “I thought that when given the chance, we executed our game-plan pretty well.

“We just have to tighten that up to play the long-game with them, set-to-set and generate our own offense and chaos-creating plays. Throughout the match, I was pleased to see our cohesion remain strong and energy remain consistent.”

 

Wednesday stats:

Alita Blouin — 7 digs, 1 ace
Maddie Georges — 1 kill, 8 digs, 8 assists
Taygin Jump — 1 dig
Ryanne Knoblich — 3 digs
Jill Prince — 2 kills, 1 block assist
Olivia Schaffeld 
— 1 kill, 2 digs, 1 block assist, 1 ace
Lyla Stuurmans 
— 1 kill, 4 digs
Lucy Tenore 
— 2 kills, 1 block assist, 1 ace
Savina Wells 
— 4 kills, 1 block assist

Ryanne Knoblich chipped in with tons o’ hustle.

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Jada Heaton and Coupeville’s JV spikers are reaching new heights. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

La Conner High School’s JV volleyball program hasn’t lost a league match in two decades-plus.

Yes, you read that right.

So, it comes as little surprise that the Braves came out on top Wednesday night in a battle of teams previously unbeaten in Northwest 2B/1B League action.

But, while La Conner’s second squad held off visiting Coupeville 25-17, 25-23, 25-17, the young Wolves exited the gym with some joy in their collective step.

They’re getting closer, and they refuse to bow down easily.

“It went really well! I’m super proud of the girls and how great they played tonight,” said Coupeville coach Ashley Menges.

“They went in firing, which quickly brought the competitiveness and energy we needed.

“You could see the spark in their eyes when they realized they can compete and they can be the big dogs, which was the highlight of my night for sure.”

Mia Farris keeps her eyes on the prize.

Even with the loss, the Wolf JV has the best win/loss record of any fall sports team at CHS, sitting at 7-2 overall, 6-1 in NWL play.

La Conner’s JV is 7-1 overall, 7-0 in league, with its only loss a narrow 2-1 defeat to 2A Sehome.

Coupeville heads back to its own gym for a stretch of practices, with its next match a road trip to Orcas Island Oct. 12.

The rematch with La Conner will be on Whidbey Oct. 19, and it’s one Menges and her spikers are already thinking about.

“Everyone had a really great game, everyone was fired up, and we’re excited to compete with them in our gym soon.”

Wednesday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 1 kill, 5 digs, 6 assists
Mia Farris — 3 kills, 1 ace
Gwen Gustafson — 4 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace
Jada Heaton — 1 kill
Issabel Johnson — 2 digs, 2 assists
Katie Marti — 5 kills, 4 assists, 2 aces
Madison McMillan — 3 kills, 10 digs, 2 aces
Grey Peabody — 5 kills
Aby Wood — 1 kill

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Chelsea Prescott, seen during her senior season at Coupeville High School, is piling up stats as a freshman at Medaille College. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Call her the streak-buster.

Sparked by the play of Coupeville grad Chelsea Prescott, the Medaille College volleyball team swept visiting Hilbert College Wednesday in New York.

The 25-8, 25-13, 25-15 win snaps a five-match skid for the Mavericks and lifts them to 1-1 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play, 4-9 overall.

Medaille will try and make it two straight when its hosts La Roche University (1-1, 4-12) Saturday afternoon.

Prescott, who has adapted to playing a new position in college, having moved from the left side to the right, tallied five kills, three service aces, and a match-high 11 digs.

Teammates Chase Luebeck (11 kills) and Haley Kennedy (27 assists) also filled up the stat sheet for Medaille.

Having played in all 41 of her team’s sets, Prescott has piled up 63 kills, 101 digs, 10 aces, seven assists, six block assists, and one solo block.

The former Wolf standout has accounted for 78 points, third-best on the team.

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Nezi Keiper (back) and Carolyn Lhamon kick off a series of fan photos from Tuesday night’s CHS volleyball matches. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The gym was alive with color Tuesday night.

With the Coupeville High School volleyball squads hosting Dig Pink Night, to honor the battle with breast cancer, Wolf fans dressed up for the occasion.

That drew the attention of wanderin’ cameraman John Fisken, who delivers the pics seen above and below.

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