Wolves head to district play after defeating Sultan / Volleyball

Tuning up for the district tournament, the Coupeville High School volleyball team blanked visiting Sultan 3-0 on Senior Night in the regular-season finale Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Coupeville fell 3-1 to visiting King’s, the defending state champions, Tuesday.

The Wolves now move on to the eight-team, double elimination district tournament.

Coupeville (7-3, 10-3) will face the No. 3 team from the Northwest Conference, Meridian (4-11), at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Lynden Christian.

The Lyncs (12-2) and most likely Cedar Park Christian (9-6) will also play at 1 p.m. Saturday at LC.

The winners and losers square off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The tournament will conclude Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Lynden Christian. The top three teams advance to the bi-district tournament Saturday, Nov. 3, at Meridian.

Coupeville 3, Sultan 0

Th Wolves won 25-8, 25-21, 25-19.

Coupeville’s two seniors, Emma Smith and Ashley Menges, were honored before the match and then the pair went to work on Sultan (1-9, 4-10).

Smith finished with six kills, five aces and two blocks, while Menges added three kills, five aces and four digs.

Maya Toomey-Stout registered 10 kills; Chelsea Prescott collected six kills and nine digs; and Scout Smith dished out 16 assists.

King’s 3, Coupeville 1

The Wolves took the opening set 25-21. It was only the second time this season that a 1A team won a game from the Knights (9-0, 12-1).

King’s only loss this season was 3-2 to the state’s ninth-ranked 4A school, North Creek of Bothell.

After Coupeville stunned the Knights in the first game, King’s recovered to win 25-15, 25-19, 25-19.

Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore noted that his team was “not afraid” of the defending state champions and was “excited” with the way his team competed.

He added that he was happy for the girls that they won a set, and he was proud of how they competed throughout the match.

“We wanted to see how much we improved,” he added. Coupeville lost 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-15) to King’s Oct. 3.

“We did a good job of focusing on our improvement, showcasing our improvement,” Whitmore said. “We wanted to see how we would do against a benchmark team in the state.”

Whitmore is pleased that his team is playing its best volleyball at the most important time of the season — heading into tournament play.

Emma Mathusek led the Coupeville defense against the high-powered King’s attack. She had a “fire of a game,” according to Whitmore, and finished with 20 digs.

“They were actively avoiding her,” he added.

Toomey-Stout helped out on defense with 16 digs, and Prescott had 10. Emma Smith put up four blocks.

Toomey-Stout guided the offense with 11 kills, and Emma Smith chipped in with six. Scout Smith had 20 assists.

Scout Smith and Menges fired three aces, while Hannah Davidson, Emma Smith and Lucy Sandahl had two each.

Coupeville seniors Ashley Mengers, left, and Emma Smith embrace before playing their final home match Wednesday.(Photo by John Fisken)

Coupeville seniors Ashley Mengers, left, and Emma Smith embrace before playing their final home match Wednesday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Scout Smith challenges King’s Ava Mason (1) for a ball just above the net.(Photo by John Fisken)

Scout Smith challenges King’s Ava Mason (1) for a ball just above the net. (Photo by John Fisken)

Hannah Davidson serves against King’s.(Photo by John Fisken)

Hannah Davidson serves against King’s. (Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith goes on the attack Tuesday.(Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith goes on the attack Tuesday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Ashley Menges tips in Tuesday’s match with King’s.(Photo by John Fisken)

Ashley Menges tips in Tuesday’s match with King’s. (Photo by John Fisken)

Chelsea Prescott sets up a teammate in Tuesday’s contest with King’s.(Photo by John Fisken)

Chelsea Prescott sets up a teammate in Tuesday’s contest with King’s. (Photo by John Fisken)

Scout Smith blocks a hit by King’s.(Photo by John Fisken)

Scout Smith blocks a hit by King’s. (Photo by John Fisken)

Hannah Davidson tips in the win over Sultan Wednesday.(Photo by John Fisken)

Hannah Davidson tips in the win over Sultan Wednesday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith leaps into her serve Wednesday.(Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith leaps into her serve Wednesday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Ashley Menges launches a serve Wednesday.(Photo by John Fisken)

Ashley Menges launches a serve Wednesday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Maya Toomey-Stout rises for a kill against Sultan as Hannah Davidson watches the attack.(Photo by John Fisken)

Maya Toomey-Stout rises for a kill against Sultan as Hannah Davidson watches the attack. (Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith hits against Sultan as Scout Smith (2) and Ashley Menges (14) look on.(Photo by John Fisken)

Emma Smith hits against Sultan as Scout Smith (2) and Ashley Menges (14) look on. (Photo by John Fisken)