No. 1 Ferris Upends Mead Saxons Avenge Lone Gsl Loss

Stacey Ward broke with tradition last Wednesday and sent her Ferris volleyball players home early from practice.

They’re driving me crazy, Ward told friends. They’re not improving one bit.

Tell that to Mead and the rest of the state.

Ferris (14-1) capped a magical four-day span Tuesday with a 15-4, 15-12, 15-13 win over visiting Mead (13-2) that puts the Saxons in line for their second consecutive Greater Spokane League title and seventh overall.

The win, avenging Ferris’ lone GSL loss, came four days after the Saxons captured the high-powered, 36-team Crossover Classic in Spokane.

“That tournament was the best practice we could have had (to prepare for Mead),” said Ferris senior Missy Blackshire, whose 17 kills Tuesday nearly doubled every other players’.

Something that happened last Thursday may have also helped the Saxons. Coach Ward took her team to Manito Park for a workout/frolic away from the court. Ferris football coach Clarence Hough suggested the off-site ‘practice’ to clear the air.

By Friday, ready to practice hard again, Ferris was back on track. Ward insisted on maximum effort from the whole roster.

“The first time we played Mead I couldn’t call on my bench,” Ward said of the 16-14, 13-15, 15-12, 15-7 Panthers win on Sept. 19. “Now I have subs I can count on.”

Starters to count on, too. Amy George totaled 11 digs and seven kills, Julie Weatherred nine digs and seven kills, and Janelle Morrisette, fighting a cold, 35 assists and nine digs.

Ferris scored 14 consecutive points in the first game after Mead started 3-0. Morrisette served six straight, Elissa Ross five straight, and Blackshire had four kills.

Mead’s defense perked up in the second game after Ferris led 5-1 and 7-3. Abby Hornstein and Kortney Stewart’s serving gave the Panthers a 10-9 lead, but Ross served three straight and teamed with George for a crucial block at 12-all.

Blackshire’s three kills sparked a 9-1 lead in the final game, but Mead defense and Ferris errors resulted in a 13-all tie. Casey Carlson, who entered in the second game because starter Katie Lee has been ill, served the final two points, including an ace.

“We had talked about our mistakes, and where the holes were and where to put the ball,” Ross said of preparing for Mead a second time.

Also in the GSL, Lewis and Clark (11-4) maintained third place with a 15-6, 15-8, 15-9 win over University (4-11); Shadle Park (10-5) held on to fourth with a 15-7, 15-11, 15-11 win over Central Valley (6-9); Rogers (9-6) stayed in fifth with a 15-9, 15-6, 15-3 win over North Central (2-13); and Gonzaga Prep (6-9) tied CV for fifth with a 15-8, 15-0, 15-3 win at Mt. Spokane (0-15). The league’s top six advance to district, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Mt. Spokane.

At LC, the Tigers scored the final seven points of the first game, the last six of the middle game, and had a six-point run in the final game to defeat the Titans. Erin Naipo’s two kills, one block and one ace led the first-game run. Jen Madsen’s ace and Allison Fryer’s block helped U-Hi trim a 9-3 LC lead to 9-8 in the second game, but Kelsey Williams and Carlin Oeljen responded with aces. Naipo’s two kills and one ace highlighted the third-game rally after U-Hi led 5-0.

At Shadle, Karen Janke had four kills and Michelle Etter three to rally the Highlanders after the Bears jumped ahead 5-0 in the second game. The final game was tied at 9 before Shadle pulled away.

At Rogers, Monica Abrahamson had 19 kills and three digs as the Pirates ran a quick offense to defeat the Indians.

At Mt. Spokane, Maggie Bruya served the final four points of the first game to lift G-Prep after the Wildcats had cut a 10-1 lead to 11-8. Mt. Spokane’s Anna Konis had three kills in the first game.

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