Bears Overcome Poorly Timed Trip

Central Valley arrived 1 hour early for its opening match at Saturday’s sixth annual Action Sportswear Crossover Classic.

Or so coach Bernie Hite believed when the Bears’ bus pulled up to Shadle Park at 8:30 a.m.

Unfortunately for CV, its Greater Spokane League-counting match against Gonzaga Prep was supposed to start at 8.

G-Prep, apparently within its rights, called the match a forfeit win. All 32 teams - at four sites - were attempting to be clock-conscious because last year’s crossover ran so late.

Hite said he made the mistake by referring to an old tourney schedule. Hite didn’t attend a pre-tourney coaches meeting that would have set him straight.

“The bottom line is, I shoulder the responsibility,” Hite said. “I screwed up. What really bothers me is I don’t like taking opportunities away from the kids.”

The loss could damage CV’s District 8-AAA playoff chances. The Bears (3-9) trail Shadle Park (4-9) for the sixth and final berth. CV regrouped and finished second in its pool, including a non-GSL win over Shadle Park.

Let’s drum for Fife

Class AA Fife, enrollment 600, advanced to the tourney final for the second consecutive year.

“I’m surprised as anybody to be sitting where I’m sitting,” said 10-year coach Jan Kirk, whose Trojans won the crossover and state last year.

“Last year some AAA teams felt that because we were AA they could take us for granted. … This year we didn’t sneak up on anybody.”

Fife starts a 5-foot-10 setter, Natalie Stevens, and brings 5-10 freshman Lisa Beauchene off the bench to set.

Line forms outside, guys

Bill Christianson, the tourney site director at Ferris, used quick thinking to combat long restroom lines.

Ferris was abuzz with more than volleyball: a varsity football game against Richland, kids soccer, band drills and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. With one ladies room available, volleyball players needed help.

So Christianson turned the men’s room into a women’s room and told boys to use the portable toilets.

Turning heads

Most often mentioned as top players at the tourney: Missy Blackshire, Ferris; Angie Hall, Colfax; Eileen Gamache, Davis; and Johanna Erlebach, Walla Walla. Jessica Sanborn of Mead would have been on the list, but the 6-foot-3 senior was on a recruiting trip to Stanford.

Hot rumor

Coaches heard that plans are in the works to move the tourney to the Arena next year. Many would prefer to play a two-day tourney, but that’s against Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules.

Tick-tock

As opposed to last year, most matches started relatively close to their starting time. The exception was the No. 2 gym at Shadle, where night matches were running an hour late.

Come in, good buddy

Communication lines between sites appeared to work well except at Lewis and Clark, where the cell phone had battery problems.

Other GSL results

Ferris (12-0) dropped LC (8-4) into fourth place by winning 15-8, 15-8, 15-6 at LC; second-place Mead (10-3) swept to a 15-4, 15-12, 15-8 win over University (0-13) at LC; G-Prep (8-5) came back from a big deficit to beat Shadle 16-14, 15-13, 15-11 at Shadle; and third-place Rogers (9-3) beat NC (2-10) in four games at NC.

Saxons conquer

Amy George’s 11 kills and Janelle Morrisette’s 26 aces helped Ferris to a 15-4, 15-9 win over Fife in the title match at Shadle. Missy Blackshire added eight kills and two aces and Julie Weatherred 10 digs for the Saxons.

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