Volleyball: Wolves fall to Spartans, top Knights

Sequim volleyball coach Jennie Webber Heilman put her squad’s performance in a 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 sweep by the Spartans on Sept. 21 in plain terms.

“We got our behinds kicked,” Webber Heilman said. “(Bainbridge) has a very quick offense and we’re not able to block the ball. It was coming back quicker, and we were out of position. We definitely need to work on some defense.”

That’s a tough ask when her varsity squad is only nine players deep and unable to practice in full, six-on-six match conditions.

Lindsay Swanson posted a five-point serving run in the first game to get Sequim out of a 23-9 hole. She had the best day on the line for the Wolves, serving 10-of-11 with three aces, and also added seven digs.

The Wolves held a 12-6 lead in game two before Bainbridge went on its own service run to take control.

“They got an eight-point serving run we were unable to stop,” Webber Heilman said. “And the same player had a six-point run in the third game.

“So that will be my mission: If we are not passing well, I will call timeout, move players around and be more creative.”

Jolene Vaara posted four kills, served five-for-five with an ace, a block and four digs.

“We needed to get her the ball more,” Webber Heilman said.

Kendall Hastings added six kills, 11 digs and a block.

Sequim rebounded with a 3-0 sweep at Bremerton on Sept. 23, and earned three wins at the Mark Morris Monarch Challenge tournament at Longview on Sept. 25.

The Wolves swept Bremerton 25-15, 25-23 and 27-25.

Webber Heilman said the third game was remarkable. Sequim at one point was down 22-10, but rallied to win the game in extra points. At one point in the rally, Swanson served eight straight points.

“That’s the biggest comeback we’ve ever had,” Webber Heilman said.

Hastings had seven kills, Malory Morey served 15-for-15, Allie Gale had 15 assists and 12 digs, Jordan Hegtvedt served 9-for-9, Swanson served 13-for-14 and Vaara had seven kills.

At the Monarch Challenge, Sequim got off to a slow start, losing all of its pool play games.

However, the Wolves bounced back to go 3-0 in the lower bracket single elimination, winning the title of that bracket.

“In the end, we started playing better,” said Sequim coach Jennie Webber-Heilman. “We came away winners.”

Sequim lost to Anacortes 25-21, 25-7, to Castle Rock 25-11, 25-23 and to Washougal 25-17, 25-23.

However, in bracket play, the Wolves beat Mark Morris JV 25-12, 25-23, WF West 25-13, 25-18 and won the lower bracket title by beating Hockinson 25-16, 26-24.

Sequim was scheduled to host Kingston on Sept. 28 — results were not available at press time.

Coming up

The Wolves play at North Mason on Sept. 29 at at Port Angeles on Oct. 5.

Sequim hosts Olympic on Oct. 7 and plays at the Capital City Invite on Olympia, followed by two road leagues matches: Oct. 12 at North Kitsap and Oct. 14 at Bainbridge.

Sequim’s Jordan Hedgtvedt, left, looks to push a volley past the block of Bainbridge’s Holley McFadden in a Sept. 21 Olympic League match-up. Bainbridge won, 3-0. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell