Coupeville cruises to 3-0 win / Volleyball

The Coupeville High School volleyball team continued to power through the Olympic League with a 3-0 win over visiting Chimacum Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The Wolves are now 4-0 in conference play, all 3-0 wins.

Coupeville (6-1) could receive a greater challenge when it faces a pair of 2A schools in non-league action over the next week. The Wolves travel to Port Angeles (0-9) for a 5 p.m. match Thursday, Oct. 5, and then host Sequim (4-4) at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Coupeville defeated Chimacum 25-17, 25-9, 25-18.

Kills by Mikayla Elfrank and Hope Lodell and a couple of aces from Lauren Rose helped Coupeville jump to a 7-1 lead.

The Cowboys fought back to tie the score at 11, then consecutive kills by Emma Smith, Payton Aparicio and Scout Smith fueled a strong finish by the Wolves.

In the second set, Coupeville went up 8-1 behind kills by Katrina McGranahan, Kyla Briscoe and Elfrank and a trio of aces from McGranahan and was never threatened.

The Wolves zipped to another strong start in game three, leading 7-1 on solid serving from Rose and Aparicio.

Chimacum sliced the lead to three, 13-10, but got no closer.

Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore, regarding allowing Chimacum to rally back into the first and third sets, said his club needs to work on being focused throughout a match, especially once it builds a lead: “We have to find ways within ourselves to generate our own energy.”

Whitmore praised his team for making adjustments after timeouts, and said the Wolves had “moments of brilliance.”

Coupeville produced a balanced attack with five kills from McGranahan and Elfrank and four each from Aparicio, Scout Smith and Briscoe.

As a team, the Wolves hit over .300.

Lauren Rose recorded 13 assists, one more than Ashley Menges.

Aparicio and Lodell each added six aces and three digs apiece, and Rose had five aces.

Hope Lodell delivers a backrow kill for the Wolves.(Photo by John Fisken)

Hope Lodell delivers a backrow kill for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)

Katrina McGranahan goes on the attack for the Wolves as setter Lauren Rose (9) looks on.(Photo by John Fisken)

Katrina McGranahan goes on the attack for the Wolves as setter Lauren Rose (9) looks on. (Photo by John Fisken)