FORKS — Forks won a crucial Evergreen 1A League volleyball match 3-2 against Hoquiam to remain in striking distance of second place.
The Spartans won Tuesday’s match by a score of 25-18, 25-23, 27-29, 19-25, 15-9.
The 2 1/2-hour-long victory has Forks at 2-3 in league and 7-4 overall, tied for third place with Hoquiam. Elma is second at 3-2, while Montesano is running away with the Evergreen 1A league at 6-0.
The top four teams will make the District 4 Tournament.
Head coach Patty Brandt said her team is very young. At times, she has three freshmen on the court at once. So, to win a match after losing two straight sets was big for her players’ confidence.
“For my girls, it’s huge. Every night, they’re getting stronger,” she said.
Bailey Queen led the Spartans with 12 kills and seven blocks, while Rian Peters totaled six kills and seven blocks. Britney Dean had five kills and Emily Thomas had fives kills and eight assists.
Kierra Brandt served 96 percent with five aces, while Julia Lausche had 23 assists.
Forks plays at 7 p.m. today at Neah Bay, then has a busy and crucial week with matches at Tenino Monday, at Montesano Tuesday and at home Thursday against Elma.
That Elma match could be for second place in the Evergreen 1A.
Olympic 3, Port Angeles 2
BREMERTON — The Roughriders were beaten by Olympic in a nailbiting five-set match 25-19, 24-26, 25-23, 25-27, 15-10 .
“This was a tough loss. We fought hard every set and just couldn’t finish it,” said coach Christine Halberg.
Nizhoni Wheeler had a good game, leading the team with 14 kills and five blocks. Aeverie Politika had seven kills. Kiana Robideau added five kills and eight digs.
Setter Callie Hall had 30 assists and six digs, while Natalie Steinman posted 12 digs and four kills. Brennan Gray had 14 digs and Alyssa Sweet 13 digs.
Steinman served 19-for-20, Gray 19-for-21 and Hall 15-for-16. Nikki Price was a perfect 9-for-9 serving with two aces.
Port Angeles (5-4, 6-5) plays at Sequim at 6:15 p.m. today.
Girls Soccer
Olympic 3, Port Angeles 0
BREMERTON — The Roughriders traveled to Silverdale Stadium looking to maintain hold of their playoff position but came away disappointed, losing 3-0 to the league-leading Trojans.
Port Angeles was hoping for a quick start, according to coach Scott Moseley. Instead, they stumbled just after the opening kickoff, allowing a goal 90 seconds into the game.
“You can’t give up a goal so quickly against a top team,” Moseley said.
Moseley said the play evened out as the Riders gained confidence on the fast FieldTurf surface, but they were unable to break down the quicker Olympic defense. Goalkeeper Madelyn Wenzl kept the score close, fending off eight shots on goal.
The Trojans added two insurance goals in the second half before Port Angeles had its best scoring chance. Forward Delaney Wenzl split two defenders and got off a shot as the Olympic goalie slid into her. The deflected shot bounced off the crossbar.
Moseley named the Wenzl sisters offensive and defensive players of the game; midfielder Shanzi Cosgrove was tabbed as transition player.
“We moved Shanzi to midfield in the second half and she responded with good energy, passing and successfully linking with our forwards,” said Moseley
Fourth-place Port Angeles (4-5, 6-6), plays at third-place Sequim (5-3, 8-4) in a rivalry game at 6:45 p.m. today. The top four teams make the West Central District playoffs.
The last time these two teams played, the game ended in a scoreless tie and went to penalty kicks, which were won by Sequim.
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Compiled from team reports
