Slumping, Trailing, Ferris Tips Mead

Ferris High volleyball players glanced at the scoreboard in the first game and read: Mead 12, Ferris 0.

More than two hours later, however, Ferris left the Mead gymnasium with an inspired four-game win over the defending State 4A champion Panthers.

“Right now this ranks as the best all-time,” Ferris coach Stacey Ward said after her team’s 6-15, 16-14, 17-15, 16-14 marathon win that made the Greater Spokane League race much more interesting. “I can’t even remember any other games right now.”

The outcome, Ferris’ fifth consecutive league win over the Panthers, left both teams with 4-1 records, tied for second place with Shadle Park. Shadle hosts first-place Lewis and Clark (4-0) tonight.

Mead was riding a league-best nine-match winning streak.

The catalyst for Ferris’ rally occurred late in the first game, when the Saxons scored six consecutive points to cut into Mead’s 12-0 lead.

“Although we lost that first game, that (comeback) helped us realize that we could play with them,” said Courtney Garcea, who combined with Nicole Brouillard for 30 kills.

Brouillard, getting extensive play in her first league match because of an injured right ankle, said the pain couldn’t keep her from playing against the Panthers.

“We’ve struggled the last few games with sicknesses and injuries,” Brouillard said of losses to Mt. Spokane, St. Maries and Sandpoint. “So it was our goal to prove everyone wrong.”

The second game, the highlight of the night, took nearly an hour. Ferris led 6-1 and 11-5, but Amy Vaughn served seven consecutive points for a 12-11 Mead edge.

At 14-13, Ferris served long, the first of nine sideouts before Whitney Murphy’s kill allowed Mead to tie the match. Brouillard served out the game, thanks to two Mead errors.

The Saxons also had control in the third game, 11-5 and 13-6, but Kali Rumberger served six consecutive points for a 14-13 Mead advantage. Brouillard had a kill for a sideout, and Ferris also fought off game point at 15-14. Brouillard again served out the game, getting a big ace when Murphy ducked into the ball.

Mead also rallied after trailing the deciding game 11-6 and 13-9. A 13-11 Ferris lead turned to a 14-all tie in the midst of seven sideouts, but a Garcea kill and Mead error ended the night.

“Basically, what I saw was Ferris settling into its offense and we got a little rattled,” said Mead coach Judy Kight. “When we play well, we win convincingly, and tonight we were in for a dogfight.”

“I knew if we could just get it going, we’d be OK,” Ward said. “Even in the first game, we were hurt by hitting errors and not on passing or serve-receive.”

Saxons setter and captain Kristin Urdahl left late in the fourth game with a sprained ankle. Her status for Tuesday’s match at Gonzaga Prep (3-2) was uncertain.

Ferris now has a better chance at its fifth consecutive league title. The Saxons have won 72 of their last 74 league matches.

Also in the GSL, Micaela Young had four aces in the first game to help Mt. Spokane (3-3) rally from a 9-2 deficit on the way to a 3-0 win at Central Valley (1-4). CV scored seven consecutive points in the second game after trailing 14-3… . Shelly McCoy had 19 digs and Amy Oates added 13 kills to help North Central (2-3) to a 3-1 win at University (1-5). NC won the third game 15-11 after U-Hi made a rally from a 10-3 deficit.

Shannon McGrane was good on 16 consecutive serves from the end of the second game to the beginning of the third, leading Colville (5-1) to a 3-0 win over visiting Lake City (1-5) in the Border League. Colville led the first game 5-0 and managed to win 17-15 despite missing three late serves. Colville’s Janet Bach had five kills and a block in the middle of the third game… . Also in the league, Emily Bennett totaled 23 kills to guide Moscow (5-1) to a 16-14, 13-15, 4-15, 17-15, 15-9 win at Cheney. Anali Wills had eight digs and four aces for the Blackhawks (3-2)… . Amy Balmes had five kills, five blocks and three digs in the second game, when West Valley (2-3) rallied from a 14-9 deficit on the way to a 3-0 win over visiting Lewiston (1-4). WV’s Michelle Thielemann served eight consecutive points, capped by an ace, to complete the 15-11 third game… . Rikki King had 13 digs and Clarkston (1-3) rallied from a 10-4 first-game deficit on the way to a 16-14, 1-15, 15-6, 14-16, 15-6 win over visiting Post Falls (2-4)… . Ashley Hoogland had eight blocks for points and visiting Sandpoint (5-0) notched a 2-0 win over Coeur d’Alene (2-4) after trailing the first game 6-1.

Jen Barcus finished with 15 kills and five blocks to guide Lakeside (5-0) to a 15-4, 15-3, 15-4 win over visiting Newport (5-1) in a match of Great Northern League teams with perfect records. Lakeside’s Tara Thain served eight consecutive points in the first game. Jackie Nuechterlein added 14 digs for the Eagles. Both teams played at last year’s State 2A tournament… . Also in the league, Crystal Scharnhorst had 18 kills, including 10 straight kills in the fourth game, to guide Deer Park (1-5) to a 3-1 win over visiting Riverside (0-4). DP lost the third game 18-16 after trailing 7-0… . Grace Gamble had seven aces and served seven consecutive points in the first game to help Medical Lake (2-3) to a 3-0 win at Chewelah (1-3).

Gwen Davis totaled 14 kills and 13 assists to lead Walla Walla (8-0) to a 3-0 win over visiting Moses Lake in the Big Nine Conference.

Girls soccer

Katie Mortlock had a hat trick and Lacie Wilson added one goal and two assists to lead Lakeside (5-1-1, 5-0) to a 4-2 win at Pullman (4-3-2, 4-1) in a match featuring GNL unbeatens. Katie Harkins scored both of the Greyhounds’ goals… . Also in the league, Kelly Ostby scored twice, the first on a hooking shot from 18 yards out, to help Riverside (5-3, 3-2) to a 4-0 win at Chewelah (1-6, 0-5).