Rogers Continues Its Ascent
The Rogers resurgence shows signs of entering its third year.
The Pirates started the Greater Spokane League volleyball season 0-2, but they are 3-2 after Tuesday’s 12-15, 15-4, 15-10, 16-14 win over visiting Lewis and Clark (1-1).
Rogers is 26-13 in the GSL under third-year coach Anna Vanderpool. No Pirates team since 1985 had won more than three league games before Vanderpool arrived.
Jennifer Baldwin served eight consecutive points as the Pirates rallied from a 14-6 deficit in the fourth game. Rogers faltered in the first game after leading 12-7 but opened the second game with six aces and a 13-0 lead.
LC swept Rogers last year.
Elsewhere, the league’s three undefeated teams steamed ahead. Mead (5-0), Shadle Park (3-0) and Ferris (3-0) have yet to drop a league game, let alone a match.
Lindsay Murphy had eight kills and Mindy Wallis 10 assists in Mead’s 15-1, 15-3, 15-2 win at Central Valley (1-2). Mead finished in second place at last weekend’s 18-team Walla Walla Invitational, with Murphy and Wallis earning spots on the all-tournament team.
Mead is at home Thursday against defending league and State 4A champion Ferris. The teams split their league matches last year, both winning at home.
Ferris tuned up for Thursday’s match with a 15-5, 15-0, 15-13 home win over Mt. Spokane (0-5).
The Wildcats led the third game 13-7, but Casey Carlson served seven consecutive points, with two aces. Devon Herror of the Saxons served nine straight points, with four aces, in the middle game.
Michelle Etter had 11 kills and eight digs as Shadle defeated visiting North Central 15-5, 15-1, 15-3.
Katie Schurra of the Highlanders had two consecutive aces in the third game. The Indians are 1-4.
Six-foot sophomore Keva Sonderen had 16 kills as visiting Gonzaga Prep (1-2) defeated University 15-6, 15-11, 10-15, 15-13. Crissa Poole of the Titans (0-2) had 42 assists.
Great Northern League matches were three-game sweeps except for Newport’s 16-14, 15-5, 11-15, 15-11 win at Lakeside that left both teams 1-1.
All-league returning most valuable player Carey Sauer led Newport with 15 kills and five blocks. The Grizzlies broke from a 14-all tie to win the first game.
Lakeside freshman Jen Barcus had four blocks in the third game.
Also in the league, Carissa True had a string of 10 kills off 10 sets as defending champion Colville (2-0) defeated visiting Riverside 15-5, 15-5, 15-5.
Nicole Welfel added seven kills for the Indians. The Rams are 0-2.
Pullman improved to 2-0 with a 15-7, 15-6, 15-3 win over visiting Deer Park (0-2). The Greyhounds’ Casie Schneider added 26 assists.
Chewelah (2-0) defeated visiting Medical Lake 15-3, 15-9, 15-12 despite a second-game injury to junior middle hitter Melissa Halle.
Chrissy Oneal, Tara Sheppard and Amberly Joachim added 10 digs apiece for the Cougars. The Cardinals are 0-2.
Girls soccer Julia Vojtech and Katie Mortlock teamed up for the first two scores, including Vojtech’s goal from 18 yards, as visiting Lakeside (2-0) defeated Deer Park 3-1 in the GNL.
The match was tied at 1 before the Stags (0-2) made defensive errors that led to two scores.
Also in the league, Alison Biggs’ second goal gave Medical Lake a 3-0 lead and the visiting Cardinals (1-1) won 3-1 over Colville (1-1).
GSL today Soccer: G-Prep vs. LC at Hart Field, 4 p.m.; Rogers at Ferris, 4 p.m.; CV at U-Hi, 7 p.m.; Shadle Park vs. Mead at Mead Junior High, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Mt. Spokane at G-Prep, 7 p.m.