La Conner volleyball team digs for big wins

Anyone would love to have a dollar for every dig that La Conner High senior libero Rachel Cram has recorded during her four years with the school’s state championship volleyball program.

Turns out, the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation is in line for just such a payout.

The unbeaten net team raised $1,200 for the foundation and breast cancer research as part of its annual Dig Pink-Senior Night match last Wednesday, coinciding with Cram notching her 1,200th career dig during a tense five-set non-league home triumph over 1A Nooksack Valley.

“We have such a great community and fan support,” head coach Suzanne Marble said afterward of her team’s dual success on the scoreboard and with public service fundraising.

“I was proud that our seniors had a win on their home court for the last home match of the year,” said Marble, “and we had such great support with our Dig Pink Night, raising $1,200 for the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation.”

During the second set, as the team was forging a tie with the Lady Pioneers following the visitors’ two-point win in the opening frame, Marble called a time out to honor Cram.

“We presented her with a ball for her 1,200th dig,” Marble said. “It was great that it happened on her senior night.”

La Conner ended up closing out Nooksack 24-26, 25-9, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10.

“It was a tough battle,” Marble acknowledged. “We had a few ups and downs and gave away too many consecutive unanswered points in sets one and four.

“We were able to regroup going into set five,” she stressed, “and played stronger and more together.”

Several players joined Cram, who finished the match with 32 digs and four service aces, in the limelight.

Ellie Marble delivered 28 kills, 30 digs and a pair of aces.

Emma Keller contributed five kills to go along with a team-high 44 assists.

Sarah Cook posted 13 kills, 28 digs and three aces while Morgan Huizenga had four kills, seven digs and was a flawless 17-of-17 at the service stripe.

Makayla Herrera provided eight kills and four blocks for the victors.

The team followed a similar script Thursday at 2A Burlington-Edison, edging the hosts in a hard-fought match after having dropped the first two sets (22-25, 23-25) by a combined five points.

It marked the first time this year that La Conner (17-0 overall) had been pushed to five sets in consecutive matches.

“It was a great two-hour back-and-forth battle for both teams,” coach Marble said. “Burlington is a great team and every set was within four points.”

La Conner clinched the triumph by winning the final three sets by margins of 25-20, 25-20 and 15-11.

Keller fueled the attack with 56 assists. She also chipped in 27 digs.

Ellie Marble was among the beneficiaries of Keller’s crisp passing, finishing with 36 kills. She showed her versatility by tallying 42 digs.

Cram, meanwhile, added to her four-digit career total with another 33 digs. She added eight assists as well.

Sarah Cook totaled 12 kills and 35 digs while Herrera collected 15 kills and eight blocks.

The timing of the Burlington-Edison match could not have been better as the team prepares for post-season action that the Lady Braves hope will result in yet another trip to the state tournament at the Yakima Valley Sun Dome, Nov. 11-12.

“We’re so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play such high-level volleyball against Burlington heading into post-season,” said Marble. “I’m proud of the way we came back from a two-set deficit to get the win. It was a great night on both sides.”