Braves netters split 2 matches

In an up and down week, the La Conner High School volleyball team finished strong.

The Braves (5-4 overall; 1-1 in league) rebounded from a tough 3-0 Sept. 24 home loss to NW2B/1B archrival Coupeville to defeat host Friday Harbor in straight sets last Friday.

La Conner captured each set against the Wolverines by double digits, defeating Friday Harbor 25-10, 25-12, 25-13.

La Conner head coach Pam Keller received solid contributions from her entire roster at Friday Harbor.

Freshman Nora McCormick delivered a team-high 12 kills to go along with three service aces, 20 digs and a team-best nine assists.

Maeve McCormick, a junior, recorded two kills and led the victors with eight aces and 22 digs.

Addie Keller, another junior, contributed eight digs, two aces and a kill. Addison Wigal, the team’s lone senior, chipped in six digs, two aces and three kills.

Freshman Abi Poulton filled the stat sheet for La Conner with six kills, one ace and six digs.

Reese Bird, another freshman, tallied four kills, 13 digs, one ace and a team-high 13 assists.

Sophomore Aaliyah Gonzalez (4) and eighth-grader Mia Delage (1) combined for five digs.

La Conner, which visited league foe Orcas Island on Tuesday, is slated to return home Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. conference clash with Concrete.

The Braves will hope for better fortunes at the Landy James Activity Court than when they faced an undefeated veteran Coupeville unit last week.

Coupeville spoiled La Conner’s league home debut with a 25-14, 25-19, 25-25 road victory.

“It was a fun night on the road,” Wolves head coach Cory Whitmore told the media afterward, “and pretty exciting to get the win on their home court and do it in three.”

Lisa Stuurmans (14) and Teagan Calkins (11) teamed for 25 kills to lead the visitors. Katie Marti fueled the Coupeville attack with 33 assists.

Whitmore praised La Conner’s effort.

“A La Conner team is going to make you earn your points and we did just that,” Whitmore said.

Nora McCormick paced the Braves against Coupeville with seven kills and 24 digs. Maeve McCormick notched four kills and 17 digs. Poulton had three kills.

Keller (22) and Bird (15) joined both McCormicks in double-figure digs while Bird added a team-best nine assists.