SEQUIM — Sequim placed second at the Olympic League volleyball tournament, defeating Olympic in three sets before falling to North Kitsap in three sets.
“We didn’t really improve our lot in life,” Sequim coach Jennie Webber Heilman said, referring to the Wolves’ second-place finish in league play behind North Kitsap.
Sequim takes the league’s second seed to this weekend’s district tournament, which the Wolves open Friday against White River at Franklin Pierce High School.
Sequim started the four-team league tournament Saturday by defeating Olympic 26-24, 25-5, 25-14 at Sequim Community School.
“I think the first game was a wake-up call,” Webber Heilman said.
“We did a lot better and they kind of fell apart.”
In the second set, Maddie Potts went on a 10-point serving tear that featured six aces.
“She got almost half our points just right there,” Webber Heilman said.
“She single-handedly kind of took over the game.”
Potts finished with eight aces in the match.
Libero Emma LeBlanc served 11 of 12 with nine digs and seven perfect serve-receive passes for the Wolves, while Sydney Balkan was 11 for 12 with two aces and four digs.
Emily Wallner had five kills and eight assists, Alyse Armstrong tallied 10 assists and three kills, Rylie Roberts had four kills and five digs, and Megan Breckenridge and Ella Christiansen finished with three kills apiece.
Sequim moved across the street to Sequim High School for a tournament championship showdown with North Kitsap.
The Wolves battled hard but the Vikings prevailed 25-17, 29-27, 25-23
“We know we are right there with them,” Webber Heilman said.
Armstrong finished with five kills, eight digs and 14 assists for Sequim.
Wallner contributed 10 assists six digs and two kills, while serving 19-21 with three aces.
“Both Emily and Alyse were setting really smart,” Webber Heilman said.
LeBlanc had 18 perfect passes and 22 digs. She also served 10 of 11 with three aces.
“She was playing really, really well,” Webber Heilman said.
Roberts contributed three aces, five kills and 12 digs to Sequim’s cause, while Balkan had eight digs and Kylee Salazar finished with three kills.
Rowing
Peninsula duo places sixth
SEATTLE — Area rowers Elise Beuke and Aubree Officer placed sixth at the Head of the Lake Regatta on Sunday.
Beuke of Sequim High School and Officer of Port Angeles High School rowed the course in 23 minutes, 27.04 seconds.
They were 51.95 seconds behind the winning duo from Olympia in the Womens Jr. 2x.
Beuke and Officer took first at the Tail of the Lake Regatta last month.
Boys Tennis
Port Angeles’ Pederson advances to state
BREMERTON — Janson Pederson of Port Angeles advanced to state boys tennis tournament in the spring, advancing from the West Central District Tournament over the weekend at Kitsap Athletic Center.
Pederson had to fight through his brackets and won his last match to lock down his entry in the state tournament in three sets.
He lost the first 6-4, won the second 6-3 and took the final 10-point tie breaker 10-4.
“The match required his intelligence and flexibility in order to recognize his opponent’s weaknesses and modify his game to take advantage,” Roughriders coach Gil Stockton said.
“He was successful in his efforts and will be the first PAHS tennis player to reach the state championship in years.”
Port Angeles’ two doubles teams that reached districts weren’t so lucky.
The duos of Matt Hendry and Kody Kuch and of Tanner Gochnour and Elliott Stoetler fell prey to recurring problems for the Riders this year, double faults and consistent unforced errors.
“There were moments of brilliant play, but it is impossible to win matches of this caliber when there were up to three double faults in a game,” Stockton said.
“They were in every match and could have earned a spot in the state championship, but mistakes took them out.”
The boys state tournament will be played May 29-30, 2015, at Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.
“This tournament was a terrific learning experience with lots of play against many varied players, and recognizing what work needs to be done to improve,” Stockton said.
“It is very clear what needs to be accomplished in order to have many more PAHS players in the state tournament next year.
“I am confident we will accomplish that goal.”
Girls Soccer
Bellevue Christian 5, Port Townsend 0
KIRKLAND — In its fourth competitive game in six days, the young and depleted Redhawks worked valiantly in their final game of the season against a higher ranked team at the district tournament.
Keeping a high defensive line and an aggressive attack, Bellevue Christian scored two goals within the first 10 minutes.
“There were few opportunities to counter-attack, and the game was probably out of reach,” Port Townsend coach Colin Foden said of Saturday’s match.
Other than a 26th-minute score, the Redhawks kept the Vikings out of the goal thereafter until they allowed two late in the match.
“Senior Malia Henderson was magnificent again in her final high school game,” Foden said. “She’s had an incredible four years and grown each year.
“For the juniors, McKinzie Ginther has matured into a formidable defender and Shenoa Snyder is exceptional wherever she plays.
“Sophomore Rosemary D’Andrea also had an outstanding season. Freshmen Kaitlyn Meek, Rrutanna Ramires and Hannah Marx show great promise.
“Highlighting these performances takes nothing away from the dedication and courage of all the players on the team, and each developed significantly over the course of the season.
“The team was ultimately very much better at the end of the season than the beginning — a credit to each and every one of the players.
Port Townsend finishes the season 3-12 overall (2-4 in the Olympic League 1A Division).
Kaitlyn Meek led the Redhawks with six goals.
Olympic 2, Port Angles 0
BREMERTON — The Roughriders fell in the Olympic League seeding tournament at Silverdale Stadium on Saturday.
Port Angeles secures the league’s third seed at the district tournament where it will play Highline at Franklin Pierce Stadium on Thursday.
