SEQUIM — Sequim’s service game was strong at crucial moments as the Wolves closed out all three games from the service line to sweep Port Angeles in an Olympic League Volleyball Tournament semifinal Thursday.
Sequim edged the Roughriders 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 to earn the Wolves’ second win in three contests this season against their Rainshadow Rumble rival.
“We got some tough serves in when it counted,” Sequim coach Jennie Weber Heilman said. “We are getting there, our goal is to not miss any first serves because when you get in a rally and miss a first serve it takes the wind out of your sails. But we avoided that for the most part.”
“Our goal was to beat [PA] in three games and now we get to play North [Kitsap], and that was our goal, to get a rematch with them in the league tournament.”
Sequim (12-4) will face North Kitsap (16-1) today at 4 p.m. at Kingston High School.
Weber Heilman said her team was clutch from the service line.
“We went back-and-forth with them in all three games, but kind of uniquely, we finished out all the games on aces,” she said.
“First game, we got a side out at 24-22 and then Kendall Hastings served an ace to close it out. Second game, Jolene Vaara served out the final two points to finish the game and in the third Jordan Kidd served four in a row with two aces to win it.”
Hastings was the team’s all-around leader, Weber Heilman said.
Hastings totaled an outstanding 19 kills, went 9 for 10 on serves with two aces, made five perfect passes and added four stuff blocks and six digs defensively.
“Jolene and Kendall were connecting on some good sets and we got some quicker offensive hits for Kendall, who was our offensive leader,” Weber Heilman said.
Vaara went 8 for 9 with four aces, three kills, 13 assists, three blocks and was the team’s defensive leader with 12 digs.
“She was covering a lot of room back there,” Weber Heilman said.
Sydney Clark added 14 assists, five digs and two kills and Sydney Hegtvedt went 14 for 15 with three aces, two perfect passes and four digs.
It was a tough night at the net for Port Angeles as the Riders posted 23 kills, but committed 17 hitting errors.
Port Angeles also had some stumbles on serves, posting nine aces but also making eight errors.
Lily Halberg led the Riders at the net with eight kills, a service ace and five digs.
Ava Hairell posted six kills plus a block and a dig defensively for Port Angeles.
Josephine Edgington added four aces and nine assists for the Riders.
Alexis Perry posted three kills and three digs.
Heidi Leitz added two blocks, a kill and a dig for Port Angeles.
The Riders (11-6) will face North Mason (5-11) for third place today at Kingston at 2 p.m.
Sequim and Port Angeles will both begin Class 2A District 2/3 Tournament play Friday.
Area Sports
Saturday
Playoff Football: Lake Quinault vs. Quilcene at Memorial Field in Port Townsend, 1 p.m. (Loser-out, winner-to-state)
Swim and Dive: Class 1A/2A West Central/Sea-King Bi-District championships at Mount Tahoma Aquatic Center, diving at Auburn High School. 9 a.m.
Cross Country: Cross Country state championships at Sun Willow Golf Course, Pasco,10 a.m.
Men’s Soccer: NWAC Tournament Quarterfinal: Walla Walla at Peninsula, 6:15 p.m.
Women’s Soccer: NWAC Tournament Quarterfinal: Spokane at Peninsula, 4 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Class 2A District 2/3 tournament: Port Angeles/Lindbergh-winner vs. Olympic/Sammamish-winner at Franklin Pierce, 4 p.m. (winner-to-state, loser-out).
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group Port Angeles’ Josephine Edgington back-sets a teammate as Sequim’s Kendall Hastings looks on, in a Nov. 3 Olympic League tournament semifinal match in Sequim on Nov. 3. The host Sequim Wolves won, 3-0.
Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim’s Kendall Hastings (15) looks to hit past the block of Port Angeles’ Jasmine Messinger in an Olympic League tournament game on Nov. 3 in Sequim. The host Wolves topped PA’s Roughriders in three games.
Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group Port Angeles’ Alaina Baublitz, left, looks to hit past the block of Sequim’s Sydney Clark, center, and Kendall Hastings in an Olympic League tournament game on Nov. 3 in Sequim. The host Wolves topped PA’s Roughriders in three games.
