G-Prep Rallies Again To Overcome Ferris Bullpups Retain Perfect Record Atop Gsl Volleyball Standings

The worst way to attack Gonzaga Prep’s volleyball team, it seems, is to enter the fourth game of a match with a chance to win.

On Thursday, for the fourth time in 10 days, G-Prep rebounded from a 2-1 deficit to beat a Greater Spokane League team.

The Bullpups (8-0) maintained their perfect record, but needed to score the match’s final six points for a 15-2, 13-15, 14-16, 15-10, 15-11 win at second-place Ferris (6-2).

“I’m most pleased with our composure,” said Prep first-year coach Steve Gillis.

“This was a good learning ground for us. I think a lot of teams are keying for us, which I want.”

Since Sept. 19, the Bullpups have defeated University, Lewis and Clark and Mead in five games after trailing 2-1.

In the early stages, the match at Ferris had none of the looks of a five-game thriller. Prep scored 24 of the first 27 points and Ferris wore a deer-in-the-headlights expression.

“We finally decided to take the car out of the garage and give it a spin,” said Ferris coach Stacey Ward, whose Saxons went on a 10-0 run to win the second game.

Prep led the middle game 11-7 before K.C. Richards served six consecutive points. Lea Ruhl’s ace turned the tide after a 14-all tie.

Jennifer Williams, who had a match-high 27 kills, put together a tip/block/kill series in the fourth game to spur Prep to a 12-4 lead.

Ferris led the decider 5-0, 8-4 and 11-9, but Brandy Barratt’s play at the net, Story Tombari’s serving and a close call that went Prep’s way settled the score.

“I think we’re going to be a very good team in October,” Gillis said. “Ferris is a very, very good team - easily top five in the state.”

In other GSL matches, Sally Jamison’s 17 kills, 12 digs and six aces helped U-Hi (6-2) tie Ferris for second place with a 15-2, 17-15, 15-11 win at Mead. Andrea Carnahan had 20 assists and 10 digs for the Panthers (3-5).

At Central Valley, Teana Scott’s 21 kills and five blocks led Rogers (1-6) to a 15-9, 9-15, 15-13, 8-15, 15-13 win over the host Bears (1-6). Jen Wells had 24 assists for the Pirates. Ginger Clark of CV had 10 blocks and eight kills.

Christine Reagan had 12 kills, six blocks and nine digs as host Cheney (1-4) won its first Frontier League match in two years, 15-13, 9-15, 15-3, 15-10 over Riverside.

Jennifer Scott had 17 service points for the Blackhawks. For the Rams (0-5), Erin Nelson had seven kills and Katie Putman 14 assists.

Girls soccer

Bernice Stime and Melanie Erickson scored goals in the first 11 minutes, then teamed up on a second-half goal as visiting Deer Park/Riverside (5-0-0) slogged through the rain to beat Cheney 4-0 and retain a Frontier League lead.

Erickson also assisted on Karen Johnson’s late goal. The Blackhawks are 3-2-0.

Host East Valley (4-0-1) kept on DP/R’s heels when Anette Thomas scored a pair of second-half goals in a 6-0 win over Medical Lake.

Licia Arnot added a goal and an assist for EV. Erica Horne had 14 saves for the Cardinals (1-4-0).

Cross country

Despite driving rain and a hail-storm, Jessica Riehle ran a course-record 19 minutes, 4 seconds on the 3-mile Bear Lake County Park course and led West Valley to a pair of wins in a Frontier opener.

Riehle beat runner-up Eryn Cook of Pullman by 49 seconds, with WV’s Heather Harmon another 9 seconds back and well ahead of the pack. The Eagles beat Pullman 23-36 and Riverside 20-40; the Rams nipped Pullman 27-29.

Matt Wheeler (16:19) led the WV boys to two wins, 17-42 over Pullman and 17-40 over Riverside. Clayton Holmes (16:22) and Levi Lounder (16:33) followed teammate Wheeler. Jon Ashcraft (16:41) of Riverside was fourth, helping the Rams beat Pullman 24-31.

, DataTimes