High netters win hard fought battle over Eagles

(left to right) Amme Verbarendse, Shelley Dowrey, Vivien Nguyen (student trainer), Leah Goshorn, Kelsey Kanehen and Kallen Shaughnessy were honored with their parents during a volleyball senior recognition night prior to Stanwood’s 3-0 victory over Arlington. Taking advantage of Senior Night emotions, the Lady Spartan volleyball team (2-6 in league, 6-8 overall) closed out their 2009 campaign with a straight-set victory over the visiting Eagles from Arlington Wednesday night.

Shelley Dowrey, Kelsey Kanehen, Amme Verbarendse, Leah Goshorn and Kallen Shaughnessy – the club’s handful of graduating seniors – all contributed to the win with timely hitting, some “here-ya-go” straight-up sets, a number of in-your-face blocks at the net, and a couple awesome digs that saved points for the team.

Goshorn got the local high netters back on track after they trailed 4-1 early on. Her blockout of an Eagle scoring attempt eventually paid off as she and Kelsey Kanehen served up enough points to make it 6-6.

After a brief Arlington rally, Shelley Dowrey’s kill and a follow-up service ace combined well with Amme Verbarendse’s own kill and her above-the-net collusion with Goshorn to reject an Eagle point attempt, which pulled the Spartans into a 10-10 tie.

Kallen Shaughnessy’s ace put her team in the lead for good.

As the first set moved on toward its inevitable conclusion, Dowrey led the way with three kills, a service ace and a terrific dig that allowed Kanehen to smash another point floorward against the visitors.

Junior Sarah Titus finished off the Eagles with four straight service points as Stanwood won 25-15.

Another junior, Taylor Carlson, made an early contribution to the second game with a quick ace and a defensive dig that enabled sophomore hitter Kaci Jones to dink the ball for a 4-2 advantage.

Arlington wasn’t about to concede, however, as the two teams battled back and forth to knot the score no less than 12 times.

Junior Jordan Bryant, Jones and Dowrey gladly converted Keiko Wilfong digs and Carlson set-ups into points over the course of the game, but nothing seemed to keep the visitors from coming back time and again until the Sparts, behind Carlson’s service, finally registered the win with Maranda Hansen’s block and Dowrey’s final kill, 25-21, Spartans.

The third set was virtually no contest. Utilizing underclassmen Emily Chappel, Kenzie Wilson, Maranda Hansen and Bryant along with the long-term service with the long-term service runs of Titus and Jones, the Sparts built a steadily increasing lead that eventually overwhelmed the visiting Eagles 25-12.

Shelley Dowrey contributed 11 kills over the course of the match, while Sarah Titus provided 14 digs and five service aces.

Earlier in the week, Lake Stevens beat the Spartans 3-1. Kelsey Kanehen slammed 12 kills, Taylor Carlson handed out 15 assists and Titus had 19 digs in that WesCo 4A North contest.

Prior to the Arlington match, Vivien Nguyen was recognized along with her fellow seniors and their parents for her contributions as a student trainer.