La Conner volleyball team banks on rich state title tradition

Great Expectations.

It is not just a famous Charles Dickens novel. It is also the mantra of the La Conner High School volleyball program, winner of six state crowns in the past 20 years, including 2019 and 2021.

Only the pandemic stood in the way of another likely championship run in 2020, when the season was shifted to spring with no post-season.

Despite significant losses to graduation, the team has turned the page while still hoping to write another chapter, as if inspired by the Dickens title.

“We don’t change our expectations from year to year,” state hall of fame coach Suzanne Marble, now in her 30th season, told the Weekly News. “Our expectations are always high, and our main focus is improving every day we’re out here on the court.”

It helps that returnees include the region’s top standout, senior outside hitter Ellie Marble, the coach’s daughter, and a prized Central Washington University recruit.

Marble posted unworldly stats a year ago, recording 521 kills and 491 digs while serving at a 96% clip in leading La Conner to a perfect 22-0 mark, capped by successive set wins at the state tourney in Yakima.

The reigning state class 2B Player of the Year, Marble will be joined by returning all-state middle blocker Makayla Herrera, a senior who finished with 202 kills, 83 digs and a team-best 73 blocks a year ago.

Seniors Kennedy Miller, who plays the right side, and middle blocker Josie Harper, who delivered 22 kills, 22 blocks, 61 digs and topped 90% on service attempts last year, also return.

Junior Morgan Huizenga continues as a middle blocker-outside hitter combo. She notched 74 kills and 144 digs and was 94% from the service stripe last fall.

Another junior, Abby Udlock, will shift from the right side to succeed graduated All-State setter Emma Keller, who has moved on to the junior college ranks. Two of Keller’s classmates, Rachel Cram and Sarah Cook, have likewise advanced to college athletics.

The graduation hits have led Marble to revamp the lineup. She sees the restructuring taking shape quite nicely.

“We’re coming together as a team and these players are finding their voices,” she said. “We’re looking for the whole team to step into leadership roles. We want the whole team to rise up into leadership.”

Matches are scheduled against Glacier Peak, Sehome, Nooksack Valley and Mount Vernon. The Lady Braves will also face Eastern Washington teams Chelan and Manson.

They play rival Anacortes, a 2A school, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Landy James Gym.

The team will be ready to answer the bell, no doubt, said Marble.

“Our players have been working hard this week,” she said. “We’re putting all the pieces together.”