La Conner net team in state tourney after dramatic comeback win

Coupeville was on the verge of winning the bi-district volleyball title here last Wednesday.

Until it wasn't.

The Lady Wolves fell prey to a scintillating La Conner comeback that saw the hosts erase a daunting 2-0 deficit to forge an emotional 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-12 two-hour, five-set victory for the 2023 Northwest 2B Bi-District championship and berth to the state tourney today (Nov. 8) in Yakima.

La Conner offset Coupeville's relentless power game by playing stellar defense. The Lady Braves were in perpetual motion with their court coverage, managing to dig repeated blasts from a talented and veteran Coupeville front line and seemed to get stronger as the marathon match progressed.

"I'm beyond proud of the way my girls left everything on the court tonight," first year La Conner head coach Pam Keller told the Weekly News after the Nov. 1 match. "This team has truly been a joy to watch grow as athletes and young women."

Fans attending the pressure-packed match at Landy James Gym concurred. They erupted with joy once the final point was tallied, saluting the Lady Braves as they gathered near mid-court for a post-match celebration.

Given the rigor of the action and the dramatic outcome, there was plenty to celebrate.

Coupeville several times had come within two points of winning the clash between the long-time archrivals. The Lady Wolves, with a two-set lead, were tied at 23-23 late in what could have been the decisive third frame.

But La Conner's Morgan Huizenga had other ideas. The senior outside hitter delivered two straight clutch kills to force a fourth set, which also went down to the wire.

Coupeville led 23-22 following a scoring spike from the Lady Wolves' Mia Farris. La Conner went ahead 24-23 on successive touch kills from senior Abi Udlock and eighth grader Nora McCormick.

With the score tied again, this time at 24-24, the home team closed out the set via an unforced Coupeville miscue and another Huizenga set clinching kill.

Coupeville, following a familiar pattern, broke out to a quick 3-0 lead in the fifth set. La Conner responded with two kills by Huizenga and a McCormick block. The score see-sawed until back-to-back kills by Udlock and Maeve McCormick broke a 7-7 deadlock, giving the Lady Braves a 9-7 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Still, the waning moments weren't without suspense.

Coupeville inched within 12-11 before Reese Bird, another of La Conner's eighth graders, drilled a spike into the visitors' deep left corner. Coupeville's Lyla Stuurmans answered with a kill to briefly trim the margin to 13-12.

Maeve McCormick then forced match point with a well-placed hit to the back row. Trailing 14-12, Coupeville misfired on a last-ditch spike attempt.

The contest between two evenly matched teams – they split four meetings this season – was highlighted by numerous extended rallies. Those long points tended to benefit La Conner with its ability to cover the entire court and pass effectively while on the move.

Coupeville did its damage, particularly in the first two sets, with quick scores off kills by Stuurmans, Farris and middle blocker Grey Peabody.

Ironically, La Conner led much of the first set, which it lost. A trend that did hold firm was La Conner's superb defense. Libero Addison Keller recorded a pair of early digs that led to two Huizenga kills and an 11-7 Lady Braves' advantage.

Coupeville followed with an 8-3 run that put the Lady Wolves in charge of the opening set.

Down 22-20, La Conner threatened on a deft tip at the net by eighth grader Abi Poulton before Coupeville finished with a 3-1 mini-run.

In the second set, with the score knotted at 9-9 courtesy of service aces by Keller and Bird and kills from Huizenga and Udlock, Coupeville went on a 16-8 closing tear, the only real separation between the teams all night.

Coupeville defeated Northwest Christian of Lacey later that night in the bi-district consolation game, securing a second seed slot in the state tourney bracket.

La Conner (13-7) likewise enters state play on a roll having downed Auburn Adventist of the SeaTac 2B loop and 3A programs Marysville-Getchell and Mount Vernon High.