The 2016 schedule calls for the Edmonds-Woodway Warriors and the Mountlake Terrace Hawks to meet just once on the volleyball court this season. So when the teams did clash on Tuesday at Edmonds-Woodway High School, they made it a battle to remember.
After a five-set, two-hour and 20-minute classic, it was the Warriors that slipped by the Hawks 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 27-29, 15-13) in a Wesco League matchup on Tuesday.
It was a back-and-forth affair with E-W taking the first set 25-22, the final point coming when Jackie Lovelace served an ace. But Terrace answered, winning the second set 26-24.
After capturing the third set 25-23, the Warriors had a chance to close out the contest with match point at 24-23 in the fourth. But the Hawks bought back, winning the set 29-27 and carrying the momentum into a fifth and deciding set.
After losing the emotional fourth set, E-W Coach Nicole Bordeaux calmed her squad down with a simple plea. “It’s time to play our game,” Bordeaux said in the team huddle before the fifth set. “It’s time to play Warrior volleyball. We want it; let’s work together, play as a team. Every single points counts. Let’s go after every ball; nothing hits the floor.”
“We did OK,” she said with a smile about her team’s fifth set performance.
Warrior senior Missy Peterson saw that effort pick up in her team when the match was on the line. “I think the difference was when we started talking, started believing in each other and we were going for everything like the team that we know we are,” she explained. “I think that’s what put us ahead.”
The Warriors jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth only to see the Hawks mount another comeback late. Terrace closed the gap to 14-13 but stumbled on the final point, giving E-W the 15-13 final set win and match victory.
Despite the loss, MTHS Coach Rene Noeun liked the attitude she saw in her squad on Tuesday. “They had a lot of heart today,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud as a coach because they didn’t give up.”
“It’s not a win-lose, it’s a win-learn,” Noeun continued. “We learn from this and we’re just going to take it and they’re going to be hungry for the next match.”
Junior Zoe Goodmansen led the Hawks with 18 kills in the match; Candice Disney added 14.
Peterson collected 18 kills for the Warriors while Sandra Yang recorded 12. With some injuries on the E-W roster Peterson was also pushed into assisting in the setters’ role; the senior had 19 assists; teammate Kristen Reijonen tallied 26.
With the victory E-W evened their Wesco League record at 2-2 for the season, 3-3 overall.
Bordeaux likes her team’s chances of climbing up the Wesco League standings if her injured players can return to play soon. “If we’re healthy I think they can be great,” she stated. “They have some high goals for the season. There are five seniors and they’re ready to compete and they’re ready to get into the top end of the league.”
After opening the year 2-1, Terrace has dropped their last three matches. But Noeun doesn’t believe her squad’s present record is reflective of their ability and potential. “I just hope that people can see that this team is evolving daily,” she stressed. “It may not show on Wesco Athletics rankings or standings but I think as we face every match it changes. They become a little bit more hungry and thirsty for that (next) win.”
“And they’re going to get there; I know they will,” she said.
Prep Volleyball: Mountlake Terrace at Edmonds-Woodway, Sept. 27
Edmonds-Woodway 3 — Mountlake Terrace 2 (25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 27-29, 15-13)
Records: Mountlake Terrace 1-3 in 2A/3A Wesco League, 2-4 overall; Edmonds-Woodway 2-2 in Wesco League, 3-3 overall
Mountlake Terrace next match: versus Shorewood, Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:00 p.m. at Mountlake Terrace High School
Edmonds-Woodway next match: versus Stanwood, Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:00 p.m. at Stanwood High School
— Story and photos by Doug Petrowski
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.
By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.