Ferris Clinches Spot In Regional Tourney

Ferris secured a regional tournament berth Thursday after a 15-4, 15-8, 13-15, 15-2 win at Lewis and Clark in Greater Spokane League volleyball.

The Saxons (15-1), with two GSL matches left, can finish no worse than second place. The top two GSL teams receive a first-round bye at district and an instant ticket to the regional tourney against Big Nine Conference teams.

Ferris scored 11 consecutive points in the first game after the Tigers (11-5) led 4-1. The Saxons scored the final six points of the second game, highlighted by Amy George and Elissa Ross kills.

Erin Naipo and Carlin Oeljen had kills in the third game as the Tigers rallied from a 13-12 deficit.

Elsewhere in the league, Gonzaga Prep (7-9) improved its district chances with a 15-11, 15-4, 15-12 win over visiting North Central (2-14).

Prep moved one-half game ahead of CV into sixth place, the final district spot. CV (6-9) hosts Mead (13-2) tonight. Mead, Ferris, Shadle Park and LC have clinched district spots. Rogers (9-6) has clinched a tie for fifth but must still play Prep and CV.

Maggie Bruya served seven consecutive points after Prep trailed the third game 8-3. Rose Sacco had 18 assists and four kills for Prep.

At Mt. Spokane, Michelle Etter and Amy Miller had 10 kills apiece to lead Shadle (11-5) to a 15-2, 15-3, 15-3 win over the Wildcats (0-16). Mt. Spokane’s Jodi Hultquist had four digs and three kills.

The serving of Tessa Neal and Tricia Stookey guided East Valley (3-0) to a 15-7, 15-7, 15-7 win over visiting West Valley (2-1) that broke a first-place tie in the Frontier League.

Neal served six consecutive points for an 8-0 lead in the second game. Stookey served eight straight, including two aces, to rally the Knights from a 6-3 third-game deficit. EV’s Rebecca Triplett had all five of her blocks in the first game.

At Cheney, the Blackhawks (1-2) rallied from an 8-3 first-game deficit and defeated visiting Clarkston 15-13, 15-9, 15-2 despite the absence of three ill or injured starters.

Cheney scored the final 13 points of the match. Lindsey Jones served five consecutive points in the second game after the Bantams (0-3) trailed 5-0.

Melissa Wollan had 13 digs and three aces as visiting Colville (10-0) defeated Lakeside 15-2, 13-15, 15-2, 15-6 in a Great Northern League match and clinched a first-round bye at district.

The league’s top six advance to district. The top two sit out the first round, and the Indians can finish no worse than second.

Nikki Petticrew had 14 kills and 10 blocks for Lakeside (5-6), which remains in solid position for a district spot.

Medical Lake (3-8) scored six consecutive points to tie the third game at 9, and finished with a 17-15, 15-6, 15-13 win over visiting Riverside (0-11).

The first game was tied at 13 until the Cardinals pulled away.

Girls soccer

Emily Squires scored from long range at 63 minutes to allow visiting Cheney (4-2-2, 2-0-1) to tie East Valley at 2 in a matchup of first-place Frontier League teams.

Malea Schumacher assisted on both goals for the Knights (6-2-1, 2-0-1). The game ended a few minutes early after Cheney’s Brittney Talmadge went down with a suspected broken leg.

At West Valley, Gabby McClintock rested after scoring four times in 21 minutes as the Eagles (6-4-0, 1-2-0) defeated visiting Clarkston 7-1.

McClintock’s fourth goal came off a corner kick, the third for her this year. Katey Moat’s goal at 75 minutes was the first in league this year for the Bantams (2-5-0, 0-3-0).

Under the league’s playoff format, No. 3 will play No. 2 in a loser-out match. The winner must defeat No. 1 twice to advance to the state playoffs.

Medical Lake (4-2-3) solidified its playoff chances with a 7-0 win over visiting Chewelah (0-10-0) in a GNL match.

Alison Biggs had four goals and one assist. The shutout went to Natalie Wilson, making her first start.

Four teams advance to district. Third-place ML and fourth-place Colville (3-3-3) are attempting to hold off Deer Park and Lakeside.

Elsewhere, Kelly Ostby scored three times as Riverside (9-0-0) moved closer to the league title with a 9-0 win at Deer Park (2-5-3).

Riverside’s Bernice Stime scored her fourth header goal off a corner kick this season.

Pullman (7-1-1), also guaranteed a playoff berth, received two point-blank goals from Gazelle Samizay during a 3-0 win at Lakeside (2-6-2) in Nine Mile Falls.

Cross country

East Valley’s boys and girls improved to 2-0 with Frontier League dual wins at Clarkston’s Beachview Park.

Jim Marlow completed the 3.1 miles in 16 minutes, 40 seconds as the ninth-ranked EV boys placed four runners in the top five during a 19-42 win. Justin Baerlocher of the Bantams (0-2) placed third in 17:15.

The second-ranked EV girls secured spots 1-5, led by winner Ann Marie Adams’ 19:59. Melanie and Melissa Frostad finished less than 1 second back. The Bantams are 1-1.

At Liberty Lake County Park, West Valley’s boys and girls swept visiting Cheney to both improve to 1-1.

David McNeill ran 17:20 for 3 miles to lead four Eagles in the top five. WV’s top runner, Sean McLachlan, didn’t run because of a sprained ankle. Third-place Kevin Mahoney (17:44) led Cheney (1-1).

Jessica Ferguson (21:01) led four WV girls in the top five. Mariana Sheldon (21:24), in third place, topped Cheney (0-2), which ran without a complete team.

, DataTimes