La Conner volleyball team digs for big Senior Night match at home

La Conner High volleyball opponents have been seeing – and feeling – nothing but blue this season.

But tonight, pink will be added to the mix.

The undefeated La Conner netters, who this fall have dropped just one set other than in weekend tournaments featuring teams from larger schools, host 1A Nooksack Valley in their annual Dig Pink-Senior Night match.

First serve for the Oct. 27 event is set for 6:30 p.m. at Landy James Gym.

Proceeds from the non-conference match go to the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation to help support breast cancer research.

In addition to supporting the hospital foundation, La Conner fans will also honor senior players Hannah Cook, Sarah Cook, Rachel Cram, Emma Keller and Aubrie Sloniker, whose junior fall campaign was nixed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m so happy for these seniors to have a senior season,” La Conner head coach Suzanne Marble told the Weekly News. “They’ve worked so hard the past four years of high school. They have won two state titles and didn’t have the opportunity their junior year. They are focused and want to finish their senior year on top.”

That has been much in evidence all season with the senior quartet playing key roles as La Conner has posted a 14-0 overall mark and 11-0 ledger in league contests, including twin wins over NW2B foes Coupeville and Orcas Island last week.

Keller fueled the La Conner straight-sets triumph at Coupeville with 35 assists. Cram led the La Conner defense with 11 digs, while Sarah Cook recorded eight kills and 10 digs and Hannah Cook added four digs and a pair of kills.

La Conner dominated play at the net as Ellie Marble notched 20 kills to go along with six digs and three service aces. Makayla Herrera contributed seven kills and four blocks and Josie Harper chipped in three kills.

“I was very pleased to see the way we played,” coach Marble said afterward. “We were able to run a quick offense as our serve receive was great. Makayla was strong in the middle, putting up a tough block.

“Ellie and Sarah did a great job offensively,” she added, “and Emma was able to run a strong offense with our passing. Hannah came in and played solid for us tonight. She was consistent in all areas of her game.”

The final line score was 25-12, 25-9, 25-10 as Coupeville fell to 6-4 on the season.

The script was much the same Thursday when La Conner defeated Orcas 25-8, 25-8, 25-9 at home, a final tune-up before the team’s entry in the Burlington-Edison Invitational Tournament on Saturday.

“It was a good night for us going into the Burlington tournament,” said Marble, whose club served at a 98 per cent clip against Orcas.

Ellie Marble paced La Conner at the service stripe, going 33 of 33 with 10 aces. She also collected 10 kills, 13 digs and six assists.

Keller finished with 19 assists and six digs, while Cram continued her streak of reaching double digits (10) in digs.

Sarah Cook and Herrera each had eight kills and combined for five blocks.

Morgan Huizenga rounded out the La Conner attack with three kills.

La Conner prepped for its Dig Pink-Senior Night Match with a home clash last night opposite Mount Vernon Christian, whom the Lady Braves defeated 25-10, 25-5, 25-6 Sept. 30.