SEQUIM — Sequim used outstanding serving and strong net play to beat rival Port Angeles 3-0 in nonleague volleyball action.
The experienced Wolves easily controlled the first two games, losing just a combined 29 points, as the youthful Roughriders came back strong but fell short in the third game.
Sequim won 25-14, 25-15, 25-21.
Setter Taylor Balkan led the serving by going 18 of 18 while Haleigh Harrison was a monster at the net with 12 kills for the Wolves, who improved to 4-1 overall on the year with Thursday night’s victory.
“We served very well with 15 aces and only missing two serves,” Sequim coach Jennie Webber Heilman said.
Balkan led the ace assault with six while Vanessa Martinez was 15 of 15 in serving and Rylleigh Zbaraschuk was 12 of 12.
“Taylor, Vanessa and Rylleigh each had some great serving runs, with Taylor getting five aces just in the second game,” Webber Heilman said.
Harrison, meanwhile, led a strong attack at the net for the Wolves.
“Haleigh was our offensive leader but almost all our girls who played front row had at least two kills each, which helps spread out our offense,” Webber Heilman said.
Lex Besand put down five kills while no other player had more than three.
Balkan had another standout match at setter, distributing 25 assists.
“Taylor was hustling everywhere, putting up great sets for our hitters,” Webber Heilman said.
Zbaraschuk was stellar in the back row with 17 digs while Balkan and Martinez had nine apiece.
The young Riders (1-4) just couldn’t keep up with the more experienced Wolves.
“The girls worked hard and had a great attitude all night,” Port Angeles coach Christine Halberg said. “They never gave up.
“Sequim has a great team. They serve aggressively and hit hard. Our defense got up some great hits.”
Port Angeles participated in the South Whidbey Invitational on Saturday to gain more experience.
“The tourney will give us more time on the court together, learning to play with each other as well as getting a lot of repetitions in competitive situations,” Halberg said on Thursday.
Holli Williams led the Riders with 13 assists, 10 digs, one block and two aces while Alyssa Wetzler had nine digs and a kill.
Madison Hinrichs went low for five digs and also had four kills and an ace for Port Angeles while Bailee Jones earned four kills, three blocks and one dig and an ace.
Sarah Steinman put down three kills, and had three digs.
Sequim also won the JV competition 2-1 by the scores of 25-16, 25-20, 15-25, and the C team action 2-1 by the scores of 25-14, 23-25, 25-23.
Quilcene 3,
Clallam Bay 0
CLALLAM BAY — The Rangers shut out the Bruins 25-15, 25-22, 25-15 in nonleague 1B competition.
“Our team’s serving percentage improved from our games earlier this week,” Quilcene coach Joni Crowell said.
“It was a really good experience to get focused and energetic after such a long bus ride [to Clallam Bay]. It will help when we are going to Seattle for [Sea-Tac] league games.
“We are going to start focusing on coverage for blocking and hitting as well as more net work.”
Emily Ward led the Rangers with 19 for 20 serving, six aces and four kills, while Celsea Hughes was 9 for 10 serving with three kills and three assists.
Quilcene’s Megan Weller served 14 for 16 with 12 assists and four 4 kills, while teammate Elysah Schryver had six assists and five kills.
The Rangers next play Christian Faith on Tuesday and Crescent on Thursday.
Port Townsend 3,
Crescent 0
PORT TOWNSEND — Class 1A Port Townsend won its first match in more than two years, but it wasn’t easy against powerful 1B school Crescent in nonleague action.
The Redskins held on to beat the Loggers 25-11, 28-26, 25-10.
“My girls played with so much heart and wanted to win so badly that they never gave up on themselves or each other,” Port Townsend coach Nettie Hawkins wrote in an email.
Crescent, 3-1 on the year didn’t take the loss lightly.
“That was a tough defeat for us,” Crescent coach Alex Baker said.
The second game was a dandy, and was the difference in the match, Baker said.
“We were in control of the game but we couldn’t finish. That was the turning point in the match.
“We proved we could play with them.”
The Loggers were so down from the loss, though, that they never could recover, he added.
Abby McGuire led the Redskins with 11 assists, four digs and two aces while Megan Lee had 10 digs and Megan Juran added four kills and four digs.
Also playing well for Port Townsend, Rio Golden put down five kills and had five digs.
For Crescent, middle hitter Shannon Williams led the way with 7 for 7 serving, three blocks, a kill, one tip and an ace while Devanie Christie went 9 for 9 with an ace, and she also had 14 assists.
Kellie Belford “played great defense for us,” Baker said.
Port Townsend next opens Olympic League play at home against Bremerton on Tuesday while Crescent plays at Sequim JV in nonleague action Monday.
Montesano 3,
Forks 1
FORKS — The Spartans won the first game 25-14 but Montesano came charging back, claiming the next three to take the SWL-Evergreen Division match.
Montesano dominated the second game, 25-13, but had to squeak by in the third, 25-23, before hammering home the win in the fourth deciding game, 25-15.
Casey Williams led Forks with 15 kills, three stuffs and two aces while Jillian Raben dished out 18 assists and head two kills.
Alissa Shaw had a strong serving night for the Spartans with six aces while teammate Courtnie Paul put down five kills.
Girls Soccer
Lindbergh 4,
Port Angeles 1
RENTON — The Roughriders put up with a long road trip and bus troubles, and then came away on the short end of a 4-1 loss to the Lindbergh Eagles in nonleague action.
Despite the Thursday loss, Port Angeles coach Scott Moseley was upbeat about how his team played.
“Compared to our last two losses, we played a much improved game,” he said.
“The girls played with an intensity, heart and passion that had been missing.”
The Riders earned their lone goal when freshman Maddie Boe won a ball that then fell to Brittany McBride, who finished from 15 yards out .
Freshman goalie Hayley Baxley had another impressive game, turning away 17 Lindbergh shots while the Riders’ offense generated 13 shots.
Moseley also singled out Shayla Northern and Kylee Jeffers for their work rate and passing.
Port Angeles, 2-3 on the year, played at Sequim on Saturday.
Girls Swimming
Port Angeles 124, Olympic 53
PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders dominated the Olympic League meet to remain perfect on the year, 3-0 in league and overall.
Port Angeles was first in all 12 events and outscored the Trojans in all events.
The Riders also qualified its first state relay team as the 200-yard medley relay won in 1:59.47 with Ashlee Reid, Carter Juskevich, Tracie Macias and Audra Perrios swimming.
Port Angeles picked up three more individual district qualifying times, including Macias (first) in the 50 freesytle in 26.36, Reid in the 100 free (first) in 59.53, and Carter Juskevich (first) in 500 free in 5:58.02.
Double-event winners included Macias in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, Reid in the 100 free and 100 backstroke, and Carter Juskevich in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke.
The Riders next travel to powerhouse Bainbridge on Tuesday with a 3:30 p.m. start time.
The next Olympic League meet is home against North Kitsap on Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. start time.