Coupeville wins thriller / Volleyball

By Jim Waller • September 26, 2019 1:30 am

Winning a heart-thumper, the Coupeville High School volleyball team out-slugged visiting Cedar Park Christian 3-1 Tuesday, Sept. 24, in the North Sound Conference opener.

The Wolves won 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23.

“It was a bit rough on execution, but I was happy to see that our experience and senior-leadership really pushed us through adversity and finishing sets,” coach Cory Whitmore said.

And the Wolves did finish well.

Coupeville trailed in the final three games but came back to win two and almost erased an 11-point deficit in the other.

The opening game was the only set the Wolves didn’t need to rally from behind. Leading 6-5, Coupeville scored five straight points with the help of two aces from Lucy Sandahl and then held on for the win.

The Wolves fell behind 16-11 in the second game before roaring back for the victory.

In game three, the Eagles built leads of 15-5 and 17-6. Coupeville battled back to get within one, 24-23, but ran out of time.

“This recovery helped us reset for set four, which was another close one,” Whitmore said.

Cedar Park Christian jumped to a 7-3 advantage in the final game, but the Wolves countered again to claim the match.

“We have some lessons and a win — which don’t always work hand-in-hand — and so we will watch some film and get after it in practice,” Whitmore said.

The Wolves were guided by strong all-around games from seniors Scout Smith and Maya Toomey-Stout.

Smith finished with 39 assists, eight digs, four kills, five aces and a block.

Toomey-Stout tallied 17 kills, 20 digs and an ace.

Hannah Davidson chipped in with 10 kills, an ace and a stellar five blocks; and Chelsea Prescott had eight kills and 10 digs.

Sandahl finished with four aces; Raven Vick had two. Emma Mathusek recorded 18 digs.

Coupeville (1-0, 4-0) takes part in the South Whidbey Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, and then hosts South Whidbey (1-0, 2-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.