Tuesday, Sept. 6th:
Winlock has a new coach on the sideline this season, and he opened up the season hosting his former team. Castle Rock came into Winlock with some experience, looking to this game for some momentum carrying forward. Winlock still has a very young squad, mostly sophomores and juniors with a couple seniors. Winlock has struggled in the past few years, but they were not folding in what was a great matchup between these schools.
Castle Rock scored their opening goal in the thirteenth minute on a well-placed free kick shot by Ryann Bailey. The score stayed 1-0 going into halftime.
With Winlock's defense playing well, they looked to try to create chances offensively but could not do so all night. In the second half, Maddie Apperson put in a second goal. This one in the 63rd minute to seal the game.
Winlock coach Brian Ziese praised the play of senior captain Chloe McGeary. He added she and the rest of the team have taken strides in growing and learning the game together. Goalkeeper Katlyn Dunlap had 13 saves for the Cardinals.
Toledo wins three of six sets in MWP volleyball jamboree
In their first match action of the year, Toledo girls took three of six sets from three Central 2B opponents. They split one set each with MWP, dropped both to Mossyrock, and swept rival Winlock. The noted standouts for the Indians were Leilani Cline, Shy-Anne Hill, and Maria Carpenter.
Wednesday. Sept. 7th:
Toledo volleyball wins first two sets, drops last three to 2A Rochester
Toledo volleyball almost got a huge win to kick start its season, but slipped up in the last three sets to drop a nonleague match to the Rochester Warriors.
Rochester is a very young squad, starting three freshman this year, but Toledo is not the most experienced squad either. Toledo's squad was dominant in the first two sets, and was looking on its way to a sweep of a much bigger school. The Indians won the first set 25-17, and then took the second 25-12.
Even all the momentum was not enough as Rochester roared back to take the next two sets 25-18, 25-17.
"Rochester made some adjustments and put a good blocker on our middle hitter. It changed their game in the third set. They made adjustments and we were just a step behind," said Toledo coach Candace Maier.
The adjustments Toledo did not make proved costly. After a tough third set, Rochester came out on top 15-13 and took home a big nonleague win.
Toledo's Maria Carpenter played a great match going 20 for 21 with 95-percent serving accuracy. Shy-Anne Hill had six digs and Leilani Cline had eight kills. Maier added that Mya Ramirez also played well in the back and with service reception.
Castle Rock sweeps perennial power Toutle
Auna Dolan was a monster in the middle with 17 kills and nine stuff blocks for Castle Rock in a 25-22, 25-20, 25-20 sweep of Toutle Lake in nonleague volleyball on Thursday in Toutle.
Dolan also had eight digs and dished five assists in the season-opening victory. Logann Golden added 11 kills and 27 digs, Haylee Hooper served 14 points and had 14 assists, and Rachel Anderson made 15 digs and served five points.
The Rocket gals looked impressive, and will build on this match as what they should expect for the season.