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Idled by the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago, the two-time defending state 2B champion La Conner High School volleyball team couldn’t wait to get back in the gym this fall.

And when that time came last week, the Lady Braves got back to business by making short work of 2A foe Sehome and NW2B rival Darrington with twin straight-sets victories to open the 2021 net campaign.

Ellie Marble delivered 20 kills and Emma Keller fueled the attack with 30 assists to lead a 25-11, 25-6, 25-20 rout of Sehome last Tuesday at Landy James Gym.

Marble added 15 kills, served five aces, had 11 digs and recorded a block in the team’s 25-14, 25-8, 25-13 triumph at Darrington on Thursday.

The victors kept alive their streak of straight-sets wins from the abbreviated 10-match spring league season employed after the virus crisis wiped out the 2020 fall schedule.

La Conner did not so much feel the heat of high expectations as it did the sweltering conditions inside Darrington’s historic Community Center Gymnasium.

“It was a good win for us up at Darrington,” said head coach Suzanne Marble. “It was close to 90 degrees in the gym at game time.”

Still, La Conner was able to put a chill in Darrington’s hopes for an upset.

“We did a great job on defense,” coach Marble explained, “which allowed us to run a quick offense.”

Sarah Cook joined Ellie Marble, who was the night’s Sportsmanship Award recipient, in filling the stat sheet. Cook made her presence felt with seven kills, seven digs and four service aces.

Makayla Herrera finished with six kills as the front line again benefitted from Keller’s passing. The Lady Braves’ setter notched 31 assists.

La Conner had set the tone two nights earlier with its lopsided debut win over Sehome.

“I was pleased with the way our team came out tonight in our first match of the year,” Marble said afterward. “We looked good on defense, which allowed us to run a strong offense.”

Keller connected with Cook and Ellie Marble on the outside for a combined 29 kills. Herrera chipped in five kills.

In addition to her 20 kills, Marble posted six digs and four aces for the victors.

Keller and libero Rachel Cram paced the defensive effort with 12 digs apiece. Aubrie Sloniker added another six digs.

After losing by double digits in the first two sets, Sehome rallied to within five points in the third frame.

“We had some letup in the third set,” Marble said,” but we settled in to finish the match.”

Beyond the strong 2-0 start, players and coaches are simply pleased to be back in the gym playing before fans.

La Conner visits non-league opponent Glacier Peak tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. before resuming NW2B play tomorrow (5 p.m.) at home opposite Friday Harbor.

The team plays Concrete Sept. 21 (6:30 p.m.), another conference clash.

While required to play with face coverings in the ongoing effort to curb spread of COVID-19, there is no masking La Conner’s enthusiasm to be back to business as usual with a complete fall season and non-league tests against teams from larger enrollment schools.

“We will continue to work on communication,” Marble told the Weekly News, “as this has been more difficult this year due to the masks.”

But with its impressive start the team has already made a convincing statement heard loud and clear.