Things are starting to gel for the Issaquah volleyball team, and with one of the tallest front lines in the state, that could spell trouble for the rest of the KingCo 4A.
The Eagles won their third straight league match on Tuesday, defeating Garfield 25-14, 25-14 and 25-23.
“This team added in some new parts from last year. We needed to come together. In those first few matches that were pretty tough, we got to work on a lot of that stuff and we got to find ourselves and find our identity,” head coach Todd Parsons said of Issaquah’s 1-2 start. “And now they’re starting to get it, and starting to click.”
Issaquah has six athletes who stand 6-feet or taller. Five of those players had at least one kill in Tuesday’s win, including 6-foot-3 sophomore Alyssa Schultz, who tied a season high with 14.
“It gives the intimidating factor,” said Schultz, who delivered the match-winning spike in the third game. “We have six girls above 6 feet tall, but no one is more important than the other.”
Senior Stephanie Jones and sophomore Rachel Roeder added 10 kills apiece.
Issaquah’s height played a role from the get-go of Tuesday’s match. After falling behind 4-1 in the first game, the kills and blocks started to rain down. Twelve of the Eagles’ ensuing 24 points came from kills or blocks, including a game-winning stuff from 6-foot-1 junior Chrissy Dickinson. Sophomore Riley Sorenson served up four of her five aces in the first game, including a string of three straight.
Issaquah continued its domination in the second game, but struggled to find a groove in the third. The Eagles trailed until taking their first lead, 21-20, via an ace from sophomore Maddy Emerson. Issaquah closed the match out on kills from Roeder, Sorenson and an emphatic spike from Schultz.
“We’re working on being forceful and closing it out,” Parsons said. “We struggled a little bit there at the end, but we ended up closing it out, so that was good.”
Issaquah improved to 3-0 in the KingCo 4A and 4-2 overall.
Since non-league losses to two of the top teams in the state, Kentwood and Rogers, things are starting to flow more smoothly, Schultz said.
“Even in our losses, we’ve learned from them and we’ve come out so much better,” she said. “We come out expecting to win.”
Eastside Catholic remains undefeated
The Crusaders improved to 6-0 Monday, defeating Holy Names in three straight games, 25-14, 25-17 and 25-15. Ellie Radich led Eastside Catholic with 12 kills, eight aces and 10 digs. Brooke Bachesta had 12 kills and 14 digs, while Emilee Derus had 17 assists. The Crusaders defeated Blanchet in three straight games on Sept. 24, winning 27-25, 25-16 and 25-22. Eastside Catholic, which is ranked No. 6 in class 3A, has only lost one game in its six matches.
Eastlake nabs first league win
Eastlake grabbed its first league victory Tuesday night, beating rival Redmond 25-20, 25-19 and 25-18. Natalie Lambert led the Wolves with 10 kills, while Clair Salmon contributed a match-high 30 assists.
Eastlake moved to 1-2 in the KingCo 4A and 2-4 overall.
Skyline improves to 3-0 in league
Skyline won its third straight KingCo 4A contest Tuesday night, downing Woodinville in four games 25-19, 11-25, 25-21 and 25-21.
Maddie Magee led the Spartans with 14 kills and Paige Haas had five aces. Skyline defeated Ballard in five games, 20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 14-25 and 15-8 on Sept. 25. Magee led the Spartans with 17 kills, while Emily Hutchings contributed 12 and Alex Petroff had 11.
Skyline is now 3-3 overall.
