La Conner volleyball team serves up trio of triumphs

The La Conner High School volleyball team swept three matches last week, two of them in conference play.

The team, the two-time defending state 2B champion, followed up on its superb performance at a major non-league tournament in Olympia. It placed third among 17 larger school entries at the Capital City Invitational Tournament earlier this month.

The Lady Braves, undefeated in 12 regular season contests, returned from Olympia to defeat 1A Lynden Christian and league foe Concrete at home and NW2B rival Friday Harbor on the road.

The straight-sets victory over Lynden Christian last Wednesday was especially impressive.

“I’m very pleased with how we were able to build upon what we did last weekend,” La Conner head coach Suzanne Marble said after the match with Lynden Christian, referring to Olympia.

La Conner players filled the stat sheet against Lynden Christian enroute to a 25-17, 25-20, 25-9 triumph.

Ellie Marble, tabbed as a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Athlete of the Week based on her play in Olympia, crushed Lynden Christian with 15 kills, 15 digs and two aces.

“She was strong on the outside and able to finish for us,” said coach Marble.

Makayla Herrera contributed 11 kills and five blocks at the net for the victors.

“She was solid for us in the middle all night,” Marble said of Herrera.

The entire La Conner roster contributed.

Setter Emma Keller ignited the attack with 28 assists while libero Rachel Cram recorded 12 digs.

Morgan Huizenga was flawless on 17 serves and collected 14 digs.

Sarah Cook delivered four kills and seven digs while going 25 of 26 from the service stripe.

La Conner controlled the match’s tempo with its serve game.

“It was a solid night for us,” Marble said, “as we went 93 per cent from the serving line and had a solid serve receive.”

The same formula was employed the next night opposite Concrete, a 25-6, 25-5, 25-8 victim.

Marble finished with six kills, seven assists, eight digs and four aces.

Keller had 16 assists and three aces, with Cram notching 10 digs.

Sarah Cook served 11 aces to go along with five kills. Huizenga contributed five aces and Herrera added five kills.

Hannah Cook rounded out the La Conner effort with three kills and was perfect on eight service attempts.

La Conner, 9-0 in league action entering last night’s NW2B contest at Coupeville, has a conference game tomorrow at home at 3:30 p.m. with Orcas Island. The team plays Saturday in the Burlington-Edison Invitational Tournament, whose field features Lynden, Lynden Christian and North Kitsap in addition to the hosts.