Braves netters split two matches with Class A foes

The start of volleyball season was a red-letter day for the La Conner High School volleyball program.

The Braves, a perennial 2B state powerhouse, beat visiting Class 1A Blaine in the Sept. 10 season debut for both teams.

La Conner, under second year head coach Pam Keller, edged the Borderites in four sets, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, 26-24, before a supportive home crowd.

Freshman Reese Bird was named La Conner’s Player of the Match. She led the way with eight kills, 17 assists, 28 digs, one block and a service ace.

Several of her La Conner teammates also filled the stat sheet.

Abi Poulton recorded a team-high nine kills to go along with four blocks, three aces and 10 digs. Nora McCormick contributed seven kills, 10 assists, five blocks and 20 digs. Maeve McCormick added 28 digs and two blocks while Addison Keller posted 44 digs and a pair of aces.

Addison Wigal, the team’s lone senior, finished the match with 25 digs.

Aaliyah Gonzalez chipped in eight digs and four kills for the winners.

La Conner (1-1) came up just short in a second non-conference match with a 1A foe last week. The Braves fell 2-0 (23-25, 23-25) Sept. 13 to Stevenson, a southwest Washington school that enrolls 265 students in grades 9-12.

La Conner resumes its pre-NW2B slate at 3A Mount Vernon, with its nearly 2,000 students, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.

The Braves begin league play at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Landy James Gym opposite Coupeville.