By Doug Petrowski

Despite an overall winning record of 7-5, the Mountlake Terrace girls volleyball team is in danger of not qualifying for the eight-team Wesco/Northwest Conference District 1 tournament that begins Oct. 30. With a league record of 1-5, the Hawks will need to win one, and possibly both, of their final regular season matches this week to make the postseason.

The Hawks are in a battle with fellow Wesco member Marysville-Pilchuck and Northwest Conference Ferndale for the final two spots in the district tournament. Marysville-Pilchuck sits in fourth place in the Wesco North 3A standings with a league record of 2-4, 5-7 overall. Ferndale is currently 4-6 in the Northwest Conference, 5-7 overall.

There is an outside possibility that Mountlake Terrace could claim the sixth seed in the district tournament by moving ahead of Glacier Peak (8-4) in the Wesco South 3A standings, but would need to win twice this week and see the Grizzlies lose their regular-season finale against Meadowdale.

After victories in their opening six matches of the season, the Hawks have struggled against their Wesco South 3A opponents, going 1-5 in their latest matches. The league is loaded with talent, as Glacier Peak, ranked eighth in the Seattle Times 3A state rankings, is only third in the Wesco South 3A division standings behind Shorewood (10-3) and Meadowdale (9-3).

Three teams will advance from the District 1 tournament, which concludes on Nov. 1, to the WIAA 3A State Tournament Nov. 9-10 in Lacey.

The Hawks face Glacier Peak on Monday, Oct. 22, at home beginning at 7 p.m. The squad closes out its regular season schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Shorecrest at 7 p.m.