SVC claims volleyball conference title with help of Sarah Cook

Skagit Valley College showed foresight when it envisioned Sarah Cook as a rare two-sport athlete coming out of high school.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member and La Conner grad rewarded SVC with a focused 20-20 effort in Skagit's Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball tournament title win over Linn-Benton Community College in Tacoma last month.

Cook, a key member of SVC's women's basketball program, delivered 20 kills and 20 digs to help lead the Lady Cardinals to a gritty five-set championship match victory against the previously unbeaten Oregon team.

The conference tourney victory was the first in Skagit volleyball history. SVC placed second in 1987 and 2019.

The SVC players and coaches were feted Dec. 10 with a celebration on the Mount Vernon campus.

"The team earned the first-ever NWAC volleyball championship through its hard work, commitment to each other and fearless approach," athletic director Mitch Freeman told the media.

Freeman also praised coach Joe Amaral and his staff.

"I'm so happy for their accomplishment," said Freeman, "and proud to witness coach Amaral's continued success in building a championship volleyball program year after year."

Amaral was voted the 2024 NWAC Coach of the Year.

"This," Amaral said, "has been an incredibly memorable season and it has been a true privilege to coach this exceptional team.

"We take great pride," he added, "in achieving an historic milestone – securing the first-ever championship in SVC volleyball program history."

In Cook's case, the championship run had a familiar ring. She was a force for La Conner High School when it captured multiple state 2B volleyball crowns under since-retired Hall of Fame coach Suzanne Marble.

Amaral has referred to Cook, an outside hitter who often played all six rotations, as a "­gamechanger."

"Any given match," he said, "she can take over on offense or defense and sometimes both."

That was the case again when Cook and her teammates lined up opposite Linn-Benton, winner of the past three NWAC titles and undefeated in 34 matches this fall.

SVC finished the 2024 campaign with a 33-4 ledger.