La Conner wins bi-district net title against a tough Coupeville team

 

November 9, 2022

Bill Reynolds

SENIOR MOMENT---La Conner High head volleyball coach Suzanne Marble meets with senior players Makayla Herrera, Josie Harper, Ellie Marble and Kennedy Miller prior to the Lady Braves' straight-sets victory over Coupeville in the District 1 & 2 championship round at Landy James Gym last Wednesday. With the win, La Conner earned a berth to the State 2B Tournament at the Yakima SunDome this week. La Conner will face a tough field in its quest to retain the state crown it has worn since 2019.

If practice makes perfect, the La Conner High School volleyball team should be perfectly ready to defend the state 2B net crown it has worn since 2019.

Just moments after securing a berth to the state tournament in Yakima by sweeping Coupeville in straight sets Nov. 2 at Landy James Gym, head coach Suzanne Marble put her bi-district title team through a practice session.

Work remains to be done for the Lady Braves, who bring a 14-3 overall mark to the SunDome tomorrow, Nov. 10, when they begin navigating a highly competitive 16-team bracket.

Coupeville offered a true test in a match determining the lone entrant to Yakima from Northwest Districts 1 and 2.

The home team prevailed 25-21, 25-19, 25-13.

But it wasn't easy.

"They definitely came here wanting to go to state," Marble said.

Coupeville played inspired volleyball, uplifted by a loud and supportive cheering section. The visitors set the tone early, taking a quick 2-0 lead in the first set on a Madalynn Georges service ace and rare unforced error.

La Conner recovered to take a 12-9 lead on kills from Morgan Huizenga and Makayla Herrera, the latter courtesy of a nice set from Abby Udlock.

The hosts extended their lead to 13-9 on the first of Herrera's four blocks of the night.

The teams played on even terms the remainder of the frame with Herrera and Ellie Marble trading kills with Coupeville's Madison McMillan and Ryanne Knoblich. Marble had the final say, though, on a huge set point spike.

In the second set, Coupeville began committing miscues that allowed La Conner to maintain healthy leads for the most part. The Lady Wolves did bounce back from a 16-9 deficit to within 21-18 before a kill by Josie Harper ended the threat.

Herrera closed out the set with two consecutive kills, a block, and by forcing an errant Coupeville hit into the net.

Huizenga and Marble strung together key spikes to open the third, decisive set. La Conner led throughout, sparked by an 18-6 run that clinched the match.

Udlock fueled the attack with 32 assists. Marble was the prime beneficiary of her passing, recording a match-high 16 kills. Herrera also reached double-digits, finishing with 10 kills.

Lady Braves players gathered immediately after the match to sing the school's alma mater in front of their student section, which had stood most of the match. Then it was back to midcourt for the bi-district trophy presentation by director of athletics C.J. Woods and a series of quick photo ops.

But the team didn't rest long on its laurels. It began its post-match workout before the last fans had left the gym.

Practice, after all, makes perfect – the level of play necessary at the state tourney level.

 

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