Pivotal volleyball, soccer matches next week
How quickly it ends.
Regular season for three Greater Spokane League sports will be completed next week.
And what a week it will be for Spokane Valley teams. A series of matches will determine which will make the District 8 4A playoffs in both volleyball and soccer.
All four schools, both boys and girls have earned spots in regional cross country Oct. 29 at Deer Park Golf Course.
University is currently tied for fifth place, and Central Valley is tied for seventh, a game back, in volleyball. The top six teams make the post season.
The Titans (7-4) on Tuesday host Mt. Spokane (8-3) and need a win to make sure a fourth straight district appearance isn’t left to chance. Central Valley (6-5) is a long shot, needing victories at home against Ferris (6-5) and at Mt. Spokane.
It was back in 1997 that the Bears had as many GSL wins and that was in an 18-match season. CV beat Cheney on Tuesday in three games for its sixth win.
Kristin Telin had eight kills, Samantha Kern 29 assists and Salena Leavitt three service aces.
University dropped an emotional four-game contest at Shadle Park. The Titans won the first game but lost the next three late in the match.
They had some exceptional defense, including blocks by sophomore Eileen Chatfield and back row digs, by Kasey Jurich and Kortney Martin, but the inconsistencies of youth and untimely hitting errors hurt.
It makes next week’s contests for both teams critical.
East Valley and West Valley (both 3-8) have qualified for district on Oct. 25-26 as the second and third 3A seeds. They’ll determine home court advantage for the playoffs when the two meet Thursday at WV.
Titans in soccer title hunt
GSL soccer title chase could come down to next Friday’s season-ending match between University (10-0) at Ferris (9-1).
The Titans lead the league following last Friday’s 2-0 shutout victory over Lewis and Clark and Wednesday’s 3-1 win over North Central, but only by a point over Gonzaga Prep and two points over the Saxons.
And they still had to get past Mead (8-2) Friday and at East Valley (6-4) next Wednesday. The Knights are top 3A seed to postseason.
Rachel Lopez scored in each win giving her 10 goals for the year.
Central Valley (6-4) is seventh and needs an upset win over Gonzaga Prep Wednesday at 7 p.m. or help if it is to reach the playoffs.
One overland meet remains
Central Valley’s boys and girls are having their best joint cross country season in well over a decade.
They hope to embellish it Wednesday at Liberty Lake County Park when the two teams end the season against rival University and Gonzaga Prep.
The last time the boys even remotely approached the year they’ve had was back in 1993, when they went 4-4. The girls went unbeaten that year.
The Bears (7-4) are assured a winning season for the first time in memory after losing only to unbeaten Ferris last week in a four-team race. Sean Coyle finished third behind a pair of Saxons.
CV’s girls (9-2) will finish at least third in the GSL with a pair of wins. They’ve gone unbeaten since four- and two-point season-opening losses to Mt. Spokane and North Central.
Anna Layman continued her comeback season with a course record Wednesday at CV with freshmen Breanna Barsten and Tris Kline placing third and fourth in their sweep of Lewis and Clark, Ferris and Shadle Park.
University’s (5-6) seven varsity boys packed together for the fourth-through-10th places, led by freshman find Anthony Brown swept into a regional berth over East Valley, Rogers and Clarkston.
EV’s girls (6-5) continued their return to respectability and stunned the Titans (6-5) 28-29. They race at Shadle Park against West Valley (2-9) Wednesday, when team leaders Jo E. Mayer and Eagle Larsen Agee square off.
The Knights boys (4-7) and West Valley (5-6) compete for Valley 3A bragging rights.
Calling all CV grid champs
Central Valley football players from the GSL championship teams of 1983, 1995 and state champs of 1997 will be honored next week’s game at CV against Mt. Spokane.
They are invited to attend and be introduced at halftime. Players can contact coach Rick Giampietri at rgiampietri@cvsd.org or calling 228-5174.
Ladies golf news
Trailhead Ladies Golf Club had a year-end tournament and awards luncheon last week.
Betty Grassl shot 48 in A flight, Patty Haskins and Bev Johnson tied with 53s in B and Penny Brace shot 62 in C.
Net winners were Dee Elder with 32 in A flight, Sandi Hatcher with 33 in B and Grace Libby with 29 in C.
Closing day for the Liberty Lake 18 Hole Women’s Club was Tuesday, and the end-of-season banquet is Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Tony Roma’s.