A goal for most high school teams is to reach the playoffs. However, for those that do qualify, all – except the state champion – will end their season with a loss.

Such was an the case for the Coupeville High School volleyball team. A solid and successful season came to an end with a heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Nooksack Valley in the district tournament Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Lynden Christian.

Had the Wolves won, they would have qualified for the bi-district tournament.

Nooksack Valley came into the match with a not-so-impressive 6-8 regular season record. That record is skewed, however. The Pioneers play in the 3A/2A/1A Northwest Conference which includes the state’s top-ranked 3A team, Ferndale; the state’s second- and third-ranked 2A teams, Lynden and Burlington-Edison; and the state’s second-ranked 1A team, Lynden Christian.

Nooksack Valley finished sixth in the 14-team league, ahead of six 2A teams and a 3A team. Lynden Christian was the only 1A team to place above the Pioneers and the only 1A team to beat them during the regular season.

Defending state champion King’s became the second 1A team to stop the Pioneers on the way to winning this year’s district tournament.

Coupeville (11-5) almost became the third.

Nooksack Valley, who went on to finish third in the district tournament behind King’s and Lynden Christian, beat the Wolves 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-3.

The five-game match was one of multiple lead changes throughout the see-saw sets.

“Disappointing loss for sure, but only because of the result and for our two seniors, who have meant so much to the growth of this program over the years,” coach Cory Whitmore said. “Volleyball can be six points from a sweep or from a 2-3 loss, and Nooksack Valley is a very good team. I’m proud of the way we were peaking at the right time and this team’s heart and fight in all situations.”

Senior Emma Smith was “phenomenal” throughout district play, according to Whitmore, and finished her career by registering 17 kills with only one hitting error against Nooksack Valley. She also had seven digs, three solo blocks and two assisted blocks.

The Wolves’ other senior, Ashey Menges, “was stellar on defense, finishing the game with 18 digs” and did “a fantastic job reading their offense and leading her teammates to do the same,” Whitmore said.

Scout Smith collected 29 assists, 16 digs, four aces and two assisted blocks; Maya Toomey-Stout had 11 kills and 17 digs; Chelsea Prescott added four kills, 24 digs and a block; Emma Mathusek finished with 18 digs; and Hannah Davidson had two kills and two blocks.

“We, of course, wanted to play more volleyball as a team, but the girls can remember the season as a whole and be incredibly proud of our accomplishments and experience together,” Whitmore said.