Volleyball team takes two

October 21, 2008 2:18 pm
Outside hitter India Everett (7) of the Vashon Pirates prepares for another supersonic kill shot as Katie Tomlinson (14) and Margret Gritten (3) defensively cover behind her in the match against Charles Wright last week.
Outside hitter India Everett (7) of the Vashon Pirates prepares for another supersonic kill shot as Katie Tomlinson (14) and Margret Gritten (3) defensively cover behind her in the match against Charles Wright last week.

By MICHELLE STEARNS

For The Beachcomber

The Vashon High School Pirates volleyball team won twice last week, both times by 3-0 scores against Charles Wright’s Tarriers and Chimacum’s Cowboys.

The Pirates won an earlier match at Charles Wright and were just as determined to take the second.

The Tarriers match on Monday night was closer and closer with each game: 25-8, 25-16 and 25-23. The Pirates took it to the Tarriers early and kept the momentum high.

The Tarriers scored on the first two points, and then the Pirates took off and never looked back.

Strong middle blocking and service aces by Marika Treese and Katie Tomlinson kept the front of the court secure. Margret Gritten was not going to be denied in these matches and fired volley after volley at the Tarriers’ forwards, securing 10 kills in the three-game series. Gritten was everywhere on the court, diving for short balls, passing from the back lines and saving stuff blocks by the Tarriers’ forwards. She was a one-woman wrecking machine against the Tarriers’ offense.

Add to that some of the best cover play by India Everett (four kills), libero Jessica Pirruccio, who had numerous saves, and Leah Andrews, who worked the front court. Devin Anderson’s sets to the hitters seem to improve with each series. Andrews had what one observer thought was her best series of the season, blending in well with the varsity team.

Lending important support were the other freshman JV/Varsity teammates, Riley Kimmel, Tazi Flory and Chelsea Cole, who spend much time practicing with the squad and cheering from the bench.

The Pirates took command of the Chimacum match last Wednesday in the first game with a quick and strong 25 to 9 win. In game two, the Pirates again came out swinging and secured the lead at the second point and never relinquished the drive. During the second game, a 25 to 12 win, Pirruccio had a 14-serve set. Strong blocking and kills by Treese, darting reflexes by Gritten, solid sets by Anderson and supersonic kills by Everett all helped the Pirates to success. Game three was a test of will, as the Cowboys finally succumbed to a 29-27 win in a thrilling end to the evening.