Ferris, Nc, Lc Carry Off State Berths

Just as everyone in Spokane expected and what everyone in the Big Nine feared, the Greater Spokane League dominated the first Eastern AAA regional volleyball tournament.

Saturday at Wenatchee High School, GSL teams squared off three times to determine three entries to the WIAA/U.S. Bank State AAA tournament at the Arena in Spokane next weekend.

Ferris, North Central and Lewis and Clark are headed home to play again. Gonzaga Prep is the odd team out after losing to LC in the third-place match. Ferris defeated NC 15-7, 16-14 for the championship.

NC coach Linda Bushinski said, “I knew this was the year for NC. I knew we had the talent.”

She could just as well have said the same thing for the whole league.

The GSL’s dominance was so complete, Big Nine schools won one game in six matches. Strange enough, it was champion Ferris that lost - to Davis, the Big Nine’s No. 4 team - in the lone match of the weekend that went three games.

“I didn’t expect some of the wins but I knew the GSL would dominate,” said Ferris senior Molly Jones, headed for the University of Portland to play volleyball. “It says a lot for the GSL.”

Winners bracket: The Saxons rolled past league champion G-Prep 15-8, 15-1 and NC defeated defending state champion LC 15-13, 15-6.

“I think I was confident all year I’d be here, but it’s still a dream come true,” said NC senior Aimee Wilson. “I think everyone played well, not just a couple of people.”

The key for the Indians was not folding midway through the first game. NC led 8-5 but fell behind 13-8 before recovering.

“They played together,” Bushinski said. “They came out fired up and showed what they can do. Our hitting was on fire, our passing was great and the girls served where they were supposed to.”

It was the serve that sparked Ferris. Tied 1-1 in the second game, sophomore Janelle Morrisette served eight straight points.

“We served deep and then short to keep them on their heels,” Morrisette said. “They usually receive on the back line and as soon as they moved up, we served deep.”

Morrisette enters the game when it’s time for Jennifer Swinton to serve. It’s the imposing presence of the 6-foot-1 Swinton, inserted into the starting lineup during district, that is just as important to the Saxons.

“Swinton makes a huge difference,” Ferris coach Stacey Ward said. “We had trouble with our outside hitters during the regular season. The middle blockers had to do too much… . (Starting Swinton) gave everyone else confidence. I think with her it was just finally growing into volleyball. She played soccer for two years.”

Swinton, who decided this week to accept a basketball scholarship from Portland, said, “I think everyone was just fired up. Our first goal was to make it to regional. Once we got this far, what is the obvious next step? Winning district gave us confidence. This has been a good week.”

Consolation bracket: G-Prep rolled to a 16-0 record in league play but LC proved its upset of the Bullpups at district wasn’t an accident. The Tigers opened a 7-1 lead in the first game before winning 15-10 and broke away from an 8-all tie to win the second 15-11.

“All season we’ve been working, evolving,” LC middle blocker Sarah Hiss said. “You have to keep chipping away (at Prep) because we don’t have one big player. And you have to have fun.”

Hiss led the Tigers with eight kills and two blocks and Ingrid Lindeblad had 18 assists.

“It was kind of motivational because nobody thought we would go (to state) because we’re so young,” Lindeblad said.

Hiss and Lindeblad are the lone LC seniors.

G-Prep coach Steve Gillis said, “LC executed more times than we did. We had some good moments but there was too much space between the moments. No excuses; LC was just better than we were tonight.”

LC beat Wenatchee 15-8, 15-12, losing most of a 13-7 lead in the second game before closing out the host Panthers. Wenatchee knocked off Big Nine runner-up Pasco 15-13, 15-13.

Prep reached the third-place game with a 15-10, 15-10 win over Davis. The Bullpups raced to a 9-0 lead in the first game before holding off the Pirates then fell behind 9-4 before rallying to win the second.

Davis had eliminated league champ Walla Walla 15-11, 15-11.

District 7-AA

East Valley earned a berth to state after upsetting top-seeded Clarkston 15-6, 15-13 in the District 7-AA Tournament in Clarkston.

The State AA Tournament will be held on Nov. 10-11 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Leading to the title match, West Valley defeated Pullman 5-15, 15-12, 15-6; EV defeated Clarkston 9-15, 15-8, 15-12; and Clarkston defeated WV 15-5, 15-5.

District 7-A

Deer Park won the District 7-A Tournament championship by defeating Colfax 9-15, 15-6, 15-13 at Mead High School. With the victory, the Stags earned a No. 1 seed to the State A Tournament at Chelan on Nov. 10-11.

Also advancing is Colfax, which beat defending district champ Newport twice - 15-3, 15-13 in the first match and 15-4, 15-6 in the match that determined the final berth and No. 2 seed.

In other tournament matches Newport defeated Freeman 15-9, 11-15, 15-9, Lakeside defeated Chewelah and Deer Park defeated Lakeside.

District 7-B

Undefeated Wilbur-Creston beat Odessa 15-13, 15-9 to win the championship at the District 7-B Tournament in Springdale. Jessica Martin led the Wildcats with seven kills.

In a match for the third and fourth berths to state, Reardan defeated Davenport 15-7, 11-15, 17-15 behind 15 kills by Brenda Rohner and 55 assists by Jacquie Holwagner.

The State B Tournament to be held at Eastern Washington University on Nov. 11-12.

In other matches, Reardan defeated Inchelium 15-5, 4-15, 15-8 and Davenport defeated Springdale 15-2, 15-2.

At the District 9-B Tournament at Pullman, DeSales earned a No. 1 seed to state. St. John-Endicott grabbed the second seed.

, DataTimes