Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Early on in the fall 2009 season, it seems the best competition Sequim can get doesn't exist in the Olympic League.

The Wolves pounded Klahowya in three sets on Sept. 17 but fell to 3A powerhouse Kennedy at home two days later.

"Kennedy was a great team and they gave our girls a wake-up call," Sequim coach Jennie Webber Heilman said.

"If we can get our serving and offense moving close to what Kennedy was doing, we will be pretty successful."

The Lancers, eighth in the state 3A tourney in 2008, got 15 kills from Jennica McPherson and 26 assists from setter Katie Key.

"Their offense transitioned very quickly and we were not used to it," Webber Heilman said. "(Kennedy is) definitely a state-caliber team."

Caitlin Pallai led Sequim with four kills, four aces and a pair of blocks. Sierra Clark had an all-around solid game with five digs, three kills and 8-of-8 on serves.

Sequim was scheduled to host Kingston on Sept. 22 - results were unavailable at press time.

The Wolves (2-0 in league, 3-1 overall) travel to Port Townsend on Thursday, Sept. 24.



Wolves clip Eagles

The 20-year veteran coach says Klahowya's new coach should spell a new era for the Eagles.

Fortunately for the Wolves, that new era hasn't started yet.

Sequim topped their visitors from Silverdale in three easy sets, beating Klahowya 25-6, 25-10 and 25-13 on Sept. 17.

They (the Wolves) went

and got some balls they wouldn't have gotten last week," Webber Heilman said. "We didn't give up on any balls - that's what we really need to do."

Maddy Zbaraschuk had 11 kills and Jessica Lauritzen added five kills and two blocks for the Wolves.

Sarah Hankins was a perfect 12-of-12 on serves and had four of Sequim's 16 aces.

Hankins, Taylor Balkan and Kyla Martin combined

for 20 assists.

"We served fairly tough," Webber Heilman said. "We were playing great defense and Klahowya really wasn't able to get any offense going."

Klahowya, under new leader Dragan Kradzic - a former coach for the Olympic Premier Volleyball Club - simply couldn't get into a rhythm and hasn't won a league game since 2007.

"They'll be better," Webber Heilman said of Klahowya.



Sequim survives

at Interlake

In a match Webber Heilman called a "roller coaster," the Wolves went all five sets to top Kingco League foe Interlake on Sept. 11.

Sequim dropped two of the first three sets (13-25, 25-16, 11-25) before rebounding for a 25-23 win in the fourth set.

Down 12-5 in the fifth set, the Wolves regained possession and rallied behind Sarah Donahue's serve. The Wolves scored nine points in a row to close out the match.

"We never had a come-from-behind win like this with the entire team focused on and off the court," Webber Heilman said.

Donahue finished 19-of-20 on serves while Clark was perfect on all 11 serves and played an exceptional match, the Sequim coach said. Hankins added 22 assists.



North Mason no

match for Wolves

Pallai and Maddy Zbaraschuk had eight kills each while Hankins (14 assists) and Taylor Balkan (11 assists) provided the sets as Sequim rolled the defending Olympic League champion North Mason in three sets (25-23, 27-25, 25-22) on Sept. 10.

"We played well enough to beat North Mason ... but we need to be more effective hitting," Webber Heilman said.

Balkan (11-for-11, two aces) and Bekah Kirsch (8-for-8) led Sequim's serving attack while Rylleigh Zbaraschuk provided solid defense.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.