A successful run in the Northwest A volleyball league this year has given the Coupeville Wolves a 6-4 league record, and third place in the league standings. It’s also offered up a chance to nab a state playoff berth at the Tri-District tournament today at Edmonds-Woodway.
Coupeville’s last game was Oct. 29, a 3-1 win over Archbishop Murphy which gave the girls to practice and think about this weekend’s tournament, and potentially plan the drive to Yakima for the State 1A tourney.
Their first game today will be at 9:15 a.m. versus the Emerald City League’s number one team, Forest Ridge. Coupeville would have to lose the morning game, followed by another loss to be completely out of state contention, but the first game is important.
“The first game is critical if we want to go to state, it has to be us being on top of things and playing our game,” said Coupeville coach Kim Meche.
A win against Forest Ridge gives them a lunchtime game at noon, as well as a guaranteed spot at the state tourney; a loss has them playing at 1:30 p.m. and holding tight for another win. If a team falls into the losers’ bracket it’s potentially a tiring four-game day to gain a state berth.
Meche knows her Wolves are going to have to go toe-to-toe with Forest Ridge, “They hit a lot from the middle, so our middle blockers will need to work hard to shut them down,” she said.
With a solid defense, Coupeville will have a good chance of gaining ground and points, as their serving as been tough and too hot to handle this season, and Forest Ridge’s “receiving pass isn’t top notch,” according to Meche.
The State tournament will be next Friday and Saturday, at the Yakima SunDome. It’s a drive that Meche and her girls are getting to know. Last year was the first time in the school’s history it headed to the state tourney, and it’s a trip Meche doesn’t want her team to tire of any time soon.
“They’ve learned a lot about themselves this season and they’re proud to have gotten this far,” Meche said.
Meche also believes her girls haven’t peaked yet, and looks toward district, if not state, as being their chance to do so.
