Tonasket sophomore Sadie Long jumps up and slams the ball over the net against Bridgeport during the Tigers’ home game on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Photo by Emily Hanson
TONASKET – In their first three games of the season, the Tonasket High School volleyball team won two of three games, all at home.
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, the varsity team beat Bridgeport 25-23, 25-16, 20-15 and 25-18. Vanessa Martinez served 13 of 13 with three aces, Jessica Maier served 15 of 20 with three aces, Taylor Ayers served 15 of 18 with two aces, Kate Konshina had eight kills and Jessica Rhoads had four kills.
“This was a great first match for the season,” Head Coach Nellie Kirk said. “The Bridgeport girls were very tough. They seemed to always get the ball back. We really had to find a good play to put the ball away. The Tonasket girls were a little nervous, but they held on and made a couple of great come backs to win the match.”
The junior varsity team beat Bridgeport in three sets of 25-19, 25-10 and 25-23 while the c-squad lost in a best-of-three-sets match with scores of 25-17, 23-25 and 13-25.
Before the game, the Wenatchee Valley Community College volleyball team practiced for the Tigers.
“It was really great to have the Wenatchee girls come here to our school,” Kirk said. “They were all very athletic and highly skilled players. The Tonasket girls were very impressed with their height and ability to hit the ball hard. The college players got on the floor and got most of the balls up. They seemed so fast, but they passed the balls with such ease and one of our girls said ‘grace’. We felt very privileged that the college team stayed and watched our match. My girls were just very excited the whole night.”
Senior Jayden Hawkins said the team played really well against Bridgeport, stating that they hustled and the bench got into the game, too.
“If we keep playing the way we did tonight, I think we’ll be able to compete better with the rest of our league,” she said.
On Thursday, Sept. 9, the Tigers played at home against Republic, losing in four sets with scores of 25-10, 23-25, 23-25 and 15-25. Maier served 16 of 18 serves with three aces, Rhoads made 19 of 20 serves with three aces, Megan Beyers made nine of 10 serves, Hawkins had three kills and two blocks and Konshina had three kills.
“This was a great match,” Kirk said. “We were well matched. We won the first set fairly easily, then Republic started playing and we just lost the next two sets. It was a great battle. Tonasket played well with some great serves and plays.”
The junior varsity team beat Republic in three sets with scores of 25-20, 25-8 and 25-2.
On Saturday, Sept. 11, the Tigers beat Oroville at home in four sets of 24-26, 25-18, 25-10 and 25-14. Mackenzie Wheeler made 13 of 13 serves, Rhoads made 12 of 12 serves with three aces and seven kills, Martinez made 19 of 20 serves with eight aces, Maier made 15 of 16 serves with five aces and four kills and Ayers had five kills.
“This was another great match,” Kirk said. “We were able to get our serves in the court. We had many good passes to the setters, we are playing better every match. It is great to see the girls play together and win the match.”
The Tigers next play in Omak on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. and then at home against Cashmere on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.
