FISHERMEN SERVE UP 4TH STRAIGHT WIN
The sixth-ranked Astoria Lady Fishermen volleyball team hadn't really been tested through three games. The Tillamook Cheesemakers showed they won't readily give up their Cowapa League crown this year.
Down two games to none, the Cheesemakers fought back to force a fifth game before falling to the Lady Fishermen at the Brick House, 25-17, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 15-11.
"It was a really good test for us," said Astoria head coach Angee Hunt, "and I know its going to be a big challenge for us going down there to try to do the same thing."
Tillamook graduated four senior starters and had just three returning varsity players from last year's roster. But they do retain Stephanie Beeler and that will be just about enough to get Tillamook back to the playoffs.
The 3rd-team All-state senior outside hitter pounded 30 kills in last night's match to keep the Mooks in contention, but her faulty service game helped lead to Tillamook's demise.
Tillamook had three service errors in the decisive game five and gave up three more points on poor decisions in serve-receive.
After blowing a 10-4 lead in game four, Astoria never trailed in the fifth game. With just one service ace through three games of the match, Astoria notched seven in the final two games, including four in the fifth. Sara Cullen's ace put Astoria at match point 14-10 before an errant Tillamook serve ended the match.
After putting away a kill for a 2-1 lead in the final game, junior outside hitter Kristin Saulsbury tickled the tape on a serve, getting a net creeper to drop in for an ace. Tillamook won a side out on a Beeler kill on the next point, but Beeler and junior setter Jessie Martin had back to back serve errors, putting Rachel Gascoigne at the line with Astoria up 5-4. Gascoigne placed two consecutive serves just inside the back line as Tillamook's back row players opted to let them drop.
Still the Cheesemakers tied the game at seven and again at nine and ten before Wendi Agalzoff put away a stray Cheesemaker pass for her team-high 16th kill of the match, giving Astoria an 11-10 lead. Sara Cullen notched three straight points, including a knuckling ace for a 14-10 lead. The decisive point was scored on a service error, Tillamook's tenth of the match. Astoria served more conservatively, but had eight aces and only three errors.
For the second straight match, three Fishermen players reached double figures in kills, led by Agalzoff. The senior middle hitter served 17-for-17 with an ace and combined with junior outside hitter Sophie DeWitt (13 total kills) on a pair of combo blocks in Astoria's 25-17 game one win.
"She's really stepping up and being that senior leader and taking it to that next level and helping us out," said Hunt, whose Lady Fishermen had lost three of their last four matches to the Cheesemakers, including both of last year's league meetings.
DeWitt had 12 kills in the first three games, while Agalzoff scored six putaways in game four and Saulsbury (11 total kills) had three scoring spikes in the fifth game. Setter Rachel Gascoigne finished with 37 assists and served 14-for-14 with three aces. Gascoigne's proudest moment may have come in game four when she stuffed a Beeler kill attempt for a point during a 10-point scoring run.
"She really stepped up tonight and played solid front row," said Hunt. "She was battling and taking some aggressive efforts on the ball and it paid off tonight."
Tillamook, buoyed by the return of oft-injured senior middle hitter Ali Prince, who rolled an ankle at the league jamboree, played like a league title contender. Junior newcomers Melissa Waud and Megan Hamblen proved to be dangerous complementary hitters. Waud, a standout 3-sport athlete, was impressive on the defensive end and junior setter Jessie Martin racked up 49 assists in a strong performance. Courtney Heckeroth, like Waud a track standout, came off the bench last season and fills a starting role this year.
"They have really nice ball control," said Hunt, whose team heads to Yamhill on Tuesday. "They pass well on serve receive, their defense is scrappy, they control the ball well, they have lots of hitters they can feed the ball to. It puts a strain on our defense to have to cover multiple players."
"It was good to see us play solid and stay mentally tough and play focused and step up to the challenge tonight."
Through three games there is a clear dividing line down the middle of the Cowapa League. Despite Tillamook's 1-2 record, expect the Cheesemakers to battle Astoria and Banks for first place to the end of the season with all three teams capable of reaching the court at Lane Community College for the state finals in November.
Down two games to none, the Cheesemakers fought back to force a fifth game before falling to the Lady Fishermen at the Brick House, 25-17, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 15-11.
"It was a really good test for us," said Astoria head coach Angee Hunt, "and I know its going to be a big challenge for us going down there to try to do the same thing."
Tillamook graduated four senior starters and had just three returning varsity players from last year's roster. But they do retain Stephanie Beeler and that will be just about enough to get Tillamook back to the playoffs.
The 3rd-team All-state senior outside hitter pounded 30 kills in last night's match to keep the Mooks in contention, but her faulty service game helped lead to Tillamook's demise.
Tillamook had three service errors in the decisive game five and gave up three more points on poor decisions in serve-receive.
After blowing a 10-4 lead in game four, Astoria never trailed in the fifth game. With just one service ace through three games of the match, Astoria notched seven in the final two games, including four in the fifth. Sara Cullen's ace put Astoria at match point 14-10 before an errant Tillamook serve ended the match.
After putting away a kill for a 2-1 lead in the final game, junior outside hitter Kristin Saulsbury tickled the tape on a serve, getting a net creeper to drop in for an ace. Tillamook won a side out on a Beeler kill on the next point, but Beeler and junior setter Jessie Martin had back to back serve errors, putting Rachel Gascoigne at the line with Astoria up 5-4. Gascoigne placed two consecutive serves just inside the back line as Tillamook's back row players opted to let them drop.
Still the Cheesemakers tied the game at seven and again at nine and ten before Wendi Agalzoff put away a stray Cheesemaker pass for her team-high 16th kill of the match, giving Astoria an 11-10 lead. Sara Cullen notched three straight points, including a knuckling ace for a 14-10 lead. The decisive point was scored on a service error, Tillamook's tenth of the match. Astoria served more conservatively, but had eight aces and only three errors.
For the second straight match, three Fishermen players reached double figures in kills, led by Agalzoff. The senior middle hitter served 17-for-17 with an ace and combined with junior outside hitter Sophie DeWitt (13 total kills) on a pair of combo blocks in Astoria's 25-17 game one win.
"She's really stepping up and being that senior leader and taking it to that next level and helping us out," said Hunt, whose Lady Fishermen had lost three of their last four matches to the Cheesemakers, including both of last year's league meetings.
DeWitt had 12 kills in the first three games, while Agalzoff scored six putaways in game four and Saulsbury (11 total kills) had three scoring spikes in the fifth game. Setter Rachel Gascoigne finished with 37 assists and served 14-for-14 with three aces. Gascoigne's proudest moment may have come in game four when she stuffed a Beeler kill attempt for a point during a 10-point scoring run.
"She really stepped up tonight and played solid front row," said Hunt. "She was battling and taking some aggressive efforts on the ball and it paid off tonight."
Tillamook, buoyed by the return of oft-injured senior middle hitter Ali Prince, who rolled an ankle at the league jamboree, played like a league title contender. Junior newcomers Melissa Waud and Megan Hamblen proved to be dangerous complementary hitters. Waud, a standout 3-sport athlete, was impressive on the defensive end and junior setter Jessie Martin racked up 49 assists in a strong performance. Courtney Heckeroth, like Waud a track standout, came off the bench last season and fills a starting role this year.
"They have really nice ball control," said Hunt, whose team heads to Yamhill on Tuesday. "They pass well on serve receive, their defense is scrappy, they control the ball well, they have lots of hitters they can feed the ball to. It puts a strain on our defense to have to cover multiple players."
"It was good to see us play solid and stay mentally tough and play focused and step up to the challenge tonight."
Through three games there is a clear dividing line down the middle of the Cowapa League. Despite Tillamook's 1-2 record, expect the Cheesemakers to battle Astoria and Banks for first place to the end of the season with all three teams capable of reaching the court at Lane Community College for the state finals in November.
posted by Matt Richert at 10:04 AM
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