By GEORGE KUNKE
South Bend edged Willapa Valley in a close 4-game volleyball contest 25-20, 25-20, 18-25 and 26-24 Thursday at Koplitz Field House. The Lady Indians trailed 24-19 in the fourth game before reeling off 7 straight points for the victory. Emily Sanchez served up 7 straight points.
“This was an intense night of great volleyball,” South Bend HS Head Volleyball Coach Jackie Sanchez told the Herald. “We definitely had the momentum all through game one. Game two was close start to finish. Our intensity dipped in game three, and we only had the lead once. In game four, we were behind the entire game. When the score was 19-24, Emily Sanchez went back to serve seven straight points, and the entire team began to rally for the win. The momentum definitely shifted on Kessa Wilson's big block in the front row. The girls began to play tough both physically and mentally and pushed to get the win in that one rotation. It was very exciting.”
“This was a very close match in which our team played with a lot more intensity,” Willapa Valley HS Head Volleyball Coach Lori Snodgrass told the Herald. “In the first two sets, we were playing well, but South Bend controlled the game. They would get a lead at the beginning and we would battle back in the end.
“In the third match, the momentum shifted and our girls took control.” Snodgrass said. “Karli Friese was able to gain a lot of points for our team off of well placed jump serves and Brooke Spoor started blocking some of their hard hits. The momentum was still in our favor for most of the fourth set, but we just were not able to pick up the 25th point.
“Overall, I was very pleased with the way we played,” Snodgrass said. “Our serving and passing continue to improve and we are starting to show improvements in our net play as well.”
Coach Sanchez credited her heavy hitters.
“Offensively, we had a great night by all of our hitters – Katlyn Sawyer (10 kills), Makenzie Russell (9 kills and 10 blocks), Kessa Wilson (4 kills and 7 blocks), Emily Sanchez 4 kills, and Kathryn Staats (3 kills). Setters Sanchez and Alison Funkhouser did a very good job of running an effective offense. They were helped by some outstanding passing from the back row – Sanchez (13 digs), Funkhouser (11 digs), Russell (9 digs), Maddie Klus (9 digs), and Morgan Patterson (8 digs). Reilly Myers also came in and gave us a punch off of the bench with 2 kills. Klus was 13 for 13 serving.”
Karli Friese set the tone for Valley with 9 kills and Brooke Spoor made 8 blocks. Lauren Friese dug up 8 digs on defense. Emily Fluke went 21 for 21 serving.
The Lady Indians are 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the Pacific League and the Vikings are 4-2 and 3-2.
South Bend's JV won 25-15, 19-25, 15-6.
South Bend played at Naselle last night and hosts first-place Northwest Christian Thursday.
The Vikings took on Raymond Tuesday night on the road before hosting Ocosta tomorrow and Naselle next Tuesday. The Lady Seagulls visit Ocosta Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Pacific League Standings
(As of Oct. 4)
NW Christian 6-0
South Bend 4-1
Willapa Valley 3-2
North Beach 2-3
Ocosta 2-3
Raymond 1-4
Naselle 0-5
Editor’s Note: The standings are courtesy of WVHS Athletic Director John Peterson.
Lady Indians 3,
North Beach 0
South Bend turned in a complete match while whipping North Beach 25-16, 25-6, 25-12 last Tuesday night on the road.
“This was a match where we played very consistently,” Coach Sanchez said. “Each and everyone of the girls played a real good match. Having a great night at the net was Katlyn Sawyer (9 kills), Makenzie Russell (6 kills and 4 blocks), and Kessa Wilson (7 kills). We had a good night in the back row with diggers Maddie Klus, Emily Sanchez, Morgan Patterson, Makenzie Russell, and Alison Funkhouser. Funkhouser and Sanchez did a good job of setting the ball tonight. Serving 100 percent tonight was Sawyer, Sanchez, Klus, and Funkhouser.”
NW Christian 3,
Willapa Valley 0
Northwest Christian stayed undefeated in the Pacific League by taking down host Willapa Valley 25-20, 25-23, 25-17 last Tuesday (Oct. 1).
“We faced a tough Northwest Christian at Menlo and despite having
our team's best night serving and passing off the serve-receive, we just
didn't hit hard enough to put the ball away,” Coach Snodgrass said. “As a team, we just needed to play with more intensity.”
“Allison Larew, our libero, had a good night passing in the back row,” Snodgrass said. “Our team served 95 percent, with Sydney Wilkeson going
13 for 13.”
In the junior varsity match, the teams split two games.