EV Volleyball Win Builds Playoff Aspirations

The win didn’t come easy, but once accomplished paid dividends.

East Valley volleyball’s four-game victory over North Central benefited the first-year Greater Spokane League team’s top-six playoff aspirations.

“I think it helps us tremendously,” coach Jim Dorr said following the taut 15-10, 12-15, 15-9, 15-13 triumph. “We’ve beat the teams picked to be around us. It gives us a little breathing room.”

The victory over the Indians evened EV’s record at 3-3 with four games remaining. The Knights are tied for fifth place with NC and Gonzaga Prep, another team they beat.

The remaining schedule is favorable, with matches against fourth-place Lewis and Clark next Tuesday and against three of the bottom four GSL teams. Three of the matches are at home.

“It’s not unrealistic to think the top four teams will beat everyone and we’ll grab one of those other two spots,” said Dorr. “But as soon as you relax, see what happens.”

EV at times looked dominant and at others vulnerable against NC. Dorr didn’t think the Knights played with the intensity they displayed while defeating Prep last week.

After methodically winning the opening match, they squandered an 11-5 lead to lose game two.

Katie Hirst had seven kills during a 15-9 third-game triumph. But after leading 12-4 and 14-8 in the deciding game, the Knights needed six full serving rotations before Sarah Shogren’s service ace saved the day.

“It was pretty scary,” said Knight junior middle Kelly Holleran. “Sometimes we let it slip like that.”

At varying times, Hirst, Holleran and Amanda Kline were dominant up front. Kline wound up with 18 kills, Hirst 17 and Holleran 12.

But every time the Knights tried to put the contest away, NC would control the net.

“I think we worry so much about being a power team,” said Dorr. “We need to be a passing team and worry about power second.”

He said that the Knights went away from the middle, where Hirst was unstoppable. NC thwarted the outside attack in games two and four with 11 blocks that produced points or side outs, and others that kept the ball in play.

Indians coach Momi Bowles credited EV setter Elly Smith, who had 49 assists, for keeping NC off balance.

“She is phenomenal,” said Bowles. “To have a setter move the ball around that much makes it real hard to set up a blocking scheme. By the time we started to understand where we needed to be, it was too late.”

Others still looking to break through

While East Valley is in playoff contention, other Valley teams are struggling.

Central Valley and University in the GSL and West Valley in the Border League have just one victory among them, CV’s over U-Hi.

Sophomore Katie Rodgers has been the Bears’ kill leader, backed by senior Heather Harding.

U-Hi has been led at the net by seniors Teresa Valkenaar and Crystal Kawamoto. Kawamoto and Nila Gregory have also been defensive stars.

WV’s Jenny Gregorak and Haley Henry and sophomore Stacy Zeis, a back row player, have paced the Eagles.

Runners combined for team title

University’s boys and girls cross country team won the overall team trophy during last weekend’s SunFair Invitational meet in Yakima.

The boys, ranked 23rd nationally, won the meet over second-ranked Flathead High from Kalispell, Mont., thanks to Max Schmidt’s 15:10 win in his flight.

Schmidt reversed an earlier loss to Shadle Park’s Michael Kiter in a school-best effort on the course.

Titan runners finished no worse than fourth in their respective flights. Andrew Fuchs and Matt Boyce also were first, Brandon Stum and Jeremy Redding were second, Cordean Denny third and Trevor Newton was fourth.

The Titan girls were sixth overall with Courtney Martin running the third-best ever junior time of 19:17, Michelle Pierce fifth best all time at 19:32. Katie Stone ran the ninth-best sophomore time of 20:12 and Karen Chavez finished third in her flight in a personal record 20:37.

East Valley runners Melanie and Melissa Frostad were seventh and first in their respective flights with 18:40 and 18:57 times. Their brother, West Valley’s John Frostad, ran 30th among No. 1 boys runners.

Their teammate, Crystal Gerky placed eighth in the flight for second runners in 19:39.

CV soccer team moves forward

Central Valley’s soccer team took a step forward in the Greater Spokane League with Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime victory over University.

The win bumped the Bears into a tie for third place midway through the league season. The loss sent defending champion U-Hi tumbling to 1-4.

The Bears next week face Shadle Park and Mead in a pair of key matches. The Titans would have to win out for any playoff chance.

Jessie Torres scored two minutes into the second overtime for CV’s win. Heather Sale scored the first goal against the Bears in their three wins. But it was one of only four goals the Titans have scored in their league losses.

After a 2-0 start, East Valley has lost twice with games upcoming against second-place Lewis and Clark on Wednesday and Ferris on Friday.

West Valley’s Heidi Lyman scored two goals and had an assist in Thursday’s 3-2 win over Lewiston.

Lyman is the leading scorer among Washington teams in the Border League with 10 goals overall.

The Eagles are 2-3-1 going into today’s match at second-place Lake City.