OLYMPIA - Deedra Foss and Alex Zawadski were money in the bank for Lakes on Tuesday as the Lancers upset Capital 3-2 in volleyball to take over first place in the 3A Western Cascade Conference.
"Sometimes the team with the most talent doesn't win, and Capital is the top program in this league," Lakes coach Chuck Carone said. "Tongiht the team with the most heart won.
"To compete with them was all I cared about tonight. This ranks as one of the biggest wins of my career."
The match was a battle from the outset as Lakes outlasted the Cougars 28-26 in the first game then watched as Capital wrested away the second game 25-21 then smoked the Lancers 25-14 in the third game, appearing to take over the match in the process.
But Lakes refused to let go, winning the last two games 25-18 and 15-11.
"Capital just creamed us in that third game, but our girls took control again and it was a war from there on out," Carone said.
We'd never beaten three schools before this season ... Timberline, North Thurston and Capital. We'd never won a game against Capital. Now we've beaten Timberline twice and North Thurston once to put us in this position."
Carone credited two players with playing the biggest roles in the upset ... sophomore Foss, who had 36 assists and 11 kills, and Zawadzki, who put down 21 kills.
"Deedra is just the heartbeat of our team, but Alex is injured and was plying when she could have been on the bench," he said. "I've had a lot of key performances from my players in the past, but that ranks at the top."
Capital coach Natalie Zukowski took the loss philosophically.
"We can shoot for second now, unless Lakes loses, and that's what we're gunning for now," she said. "But volleyball is a weird game. On any night, anyone can win. So..."
Left unsaid is that, with four games left, a Lakes loss or two is what the Cougars have to hope for.
Lakes improved to 6-1 in the league, while Capital dropped to 5-2.
South Bend 3,
northwest christian 2
Despite the all-around efforts of Erica Edwards, Northwest Christian lost to Pacific 2B rival South Bend in five games.
"It was quite competitive and they played their hearts out," Navigators coach Pat Bowker said. "Both teams were well-matched. We had some nice blocking but just couldn't pull it out."
Edwards led Northwest with seven kills, 12 assists and served five aces in a 22-for-26 performance.
CENTRALIA 3, HOQUIAM 1
The Tigers slow start hurt them in the opening game but Centralia quickly recovered to take Hoquiam down in three straight games.
Czech exchange student Jana Belicova, a senior, led the Tigers with 19 kills while teammate Melanie Boyajian led in blocks with three. Lynne Allen kept the offense flowing with 34 assists.
"They pulled out a big win," Centralia coach Neil Sharp said of the team's likely berth into 2A Evergreen Conference playoffs. "We had 32 hitting errors in just four games and that's way too many for us. We have to play a lot better."
Sharp was particularly impressed with his imported senior.
"Belicova had her best game as a Tiger," Sharp said. "It was a breakout night for her. She really was the leader. Lara McElvain came off the bench and gave us good energy also."
TUMWATER 3, ABERDEEN 0
Katrina McClaflin led a defensive minded Tumwater squad with 12 digs en route to their dominant victory over 2A Evergreen Conference foe Aberdeen.
The Bobcats reached only eight points at their most competitive peak.
TIMBERLINE 3,
NORTH THURSTON 1
After losing the first game 25-21, Timberline rebounded behind its serving and defense to win three straight games.
Timberline improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in Western Cascade Conference. North Thurston dropped to 4-6 overall and 4-4 in league.
"We've been having slow starts for some reason against good teams," Timberline coach Krista Manke said. "In the first game we didn't have the communication that we had the last three. Our serves were a huge factor. We were more aggressive serving."
Monika Karney had 11 kills and Kelsie Alexander had 20 assists for North Thurston, which lost to the Blazers 3-0 earlier in the season.
RIVER RIDGE 3, ELMA 1
Rosie Gilbert had nine kills and Courtney Blume had 8, helping River Ridge improve to 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the Evergreen Conference.
River Ridge won 25-15, 28-25, 25-17 and 25-18.
"We tried something different in the second game and it didn't work out," River Ridge coach Robert Higashi said. "The girls have stopped thinking about potential and they're actually starting to make it happen. we're taking great strides.
Girls soccer
Aberdeen 2, CHEHALIS 1
One penalty kick sent Chehalis down a losing path as Aberdeen's Brittany McKinney scored her second goal in the 72nd minute to complete the Bobcats' comeback from a goal deficit.
Chehalis outshot Aberdeen 15-5 and scored first when Rachel Hardin put the Bearcats up in the 55th minute. But the lead couldn't hold.
"We possessed the ball well, we outshot them," Chehalis coach Tino Sanchez said. "Unfortunately, a penalty kick cost us. We just outplayed them and they knew it."
OLYMPIA 4, NORTH KITSAP 2
The Olympia scoring duo of sophomore Sammy Thompson and senior Natalie Daniels proved unbeatable against North Kitsap.
Thompson and Daniels responded to a North Kitsap goal in the first half. When the Vikings tied the game up, the duo scored again in the second half.
"We've been spreading the scoring around quite a bit," Bears coach Tessa Effland said. "We have a lot of injuries but Natalie and Sammy seem to be getting the job done."
Olmypia narrowly outshot North Kitsap 14-11 and was able to earn four saves from keeper Hana Klimek.
"It's a good mental win for the girls," Effland said in a game where the Bears lost another defensive starter to an ACL injury. "We've bounced back all year long and I think the girls will bounce back from having another player out for the season."
Effland considered the win "a good setup" for their match today against Narrows Bay League leader Stadium.
YELM 4, NORTH THURSTON 1
Ashley DeNio scored two goals for Yelm as its bettered Western Cascade Conference foe North Thurston.
The Tornados used two keepers in the game: Courtney Cannon (with five saves) and Devon Walker (with eight saves).
Yelm will host Lakes at 6 p.m. Thursday.
TUMWATER 2, CENTRALIA 0
Julie Plank scored both goals in the second half, and Tumwater shut out its ninth straight opponent to remain undefeated in the EvCo.
"Centralia chased the game," Tumwater coach Lew Kittle said. "They played tough defense. We scored two goals in each half the first tiem we played them, but they're much improved."
The goals gave Plank five in Tumwater's last two games.
TIMBERLINE 2, CLOVER PARK 0
Kristen Piephoff and Ashley Raben scored Timberline's goals as the Blazers, needing to win out, stayed alive for a playoff berth with four matches left.
Girls swimming
Lakes 95, Capital 88
The Cougars plunged out of a close 3A Western Cascade matchup with Lakes on the mere fact of having no divers to compete with the Lancers.
Freshman Amanda Clark tried to help Capital from that shortcoming by finishing first in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.
"She's been real consistent," Capital coach Burke Anderson said. "She will do well at district level."
Gwyn Browning also tried to lift the Cougars up with a solid win in the 200 freestyle and contributing to the winning 400 free relay squad.
NORTH THURSTON 102,
TIMBERLINE 88
Kira Skinner posted a state qualifying time for North Thurston with her 2:16.19 peformance in the 200 individual medley.
Skinner also won the 100 free competiton and contributed to the winning 200 medley relay squad.
For the Blazers, Alyssa Thrasher narrowed the team's losing margin with a win in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Cross country
Cushman, Minton power NWC
Junior Micah Cushman and senior Joscelyn Minton helped Northwest Christian win their respective events for the boys and girls teams at Millersylvania State Park.
Cushman ran the 3.2 mile course in 17:54 with his closest competitor over 10 seconds away.
Minton finished the course in 19:36 and was followed after by fellow Navigator Lindsey Wagner's second place finish at 21:10.
Boys golf
CAPITAL 182, LAKES 214
Jarred Bossio and Nick Schindler both shot under par as Capital prepared for next week's 3A Western Cascade Conference tournament with its best score of the year in a relatively easy victory over Lakes.
Bossio had two birdies and seven pars in conquering the par-35 Olympia Country & Golf Club course with a 33, while the only difference in Schindler's card was one of the pars was a bogey as he posted a 34.
Kyle Kanda added a 36, while freshman T.J. Griggs shot a season-best 37.
"He's been playing a lot for us, and we'd like to recognize him a little bit there," Capital coach Greg Santora said of Griggs, who started with two birdies then had two bogeys and a double bogey the rest of the way. "He probably got a little excited there (after the birdies)."
Timberline 199,
Clover Park 250
Cameron Peck shot a par performance on the road at Tacoma Country Club to help give Timberline a strong victory over Clover Park.
Teammates John Jordan (37, 2-over), Scott Gagnon (40), Ben Talbot (43), Nathan Bassett and Nick Olson (both 44) kept Timberline safely ahead in the team's final regular season match.
Timberline finished 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the 3A Western Cascade conference. The conference tournament begins next Tuesday at Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course.
