Three EvCC players recorded double digit kills as the Trojans came up with a big win on sophomore night. With two games remaining this season, sophomores Savannah Horton and Jessica Stoller left it all on the floor in their final game in a Trojan uniform on Larry Walker Court. Stoller contributed a kill, 2 assists, and 6 digs in 4 sets played while Savannah added 10 kills on 28 attacks (.286 hitting percentage), and led the team in digs with 22.
After playing Skagit to a tough 5 sets in their previous meeting that ultimately ended in a loss earlier this month, Everett came out with focused motivation and fired on all cylinders in the opening set. The Trojans jumped out to a 14-7 lead and eventually built upon that lead to go up 21-12. Skagit responded with four straight points, but it was too little too late for the Cardinals and EvCC closed out the set by a final score of 25-19.
Skagit Valley responded with a dominating performance of their own in the second set, taking it 25-15. Seven errors and bad passing contributed to the struggles in the 2nd set, but the Trojans gathered their composure in the third set after a back and fourth battle coming away with the 25-21 set win. Savannah Horton recorded four of her 10 kills in this set and Bailey Gardner added 6 of her team high 20 assists.
The fourth and final set was the most exciting of them all with 14 ties and neither team leading by more than three points. Tied at 23, the Trojans gained the advantage getting to match point first at 24-23. The Cardinals tied it back up, but after a Stasia Kaahanui kill Everett regained the lead 25-24 and again put it back to match point. The next point for either team would be well earned as a 15 rally exchange would ensue, finally ending with a Skagit kill. With the match tied at 25, another long rally rittled with digs would find the Trojans back on top 26-25 after a Kasey Dale Kill. The Cardinals once again brought the game to a tie off of a rare passing error by the Trojans (only five in the set). Again tied at 26, the Trojans dug deep in the final two points. First, Savannah Horton sent a well placed ball over the net to a diving Skagit player that was unable to receive it cleanly getting the set back to match point, then in exciting fashion, Sarah Mila ended the match on a service ace.
Watch the full replay from the game tied at 23-23.
Bailey Gardner finished the game with 11 kills, 20 assists, and 18 digs for a triple double on the stat sheet. Stasia Kaahanui led the team once again in kills with 14 and also came up with 14 digs. Savannah Horton had a big sophomore night with 10 kills and 22 digs and Sarah Mila came up big with 16 digs and 16 assists a season best and collegiate high for her in both categories.
For the Trojans it was their second conference win of the year and 6th overall win. Even though they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this group is playing with pride in the final weeks of the season. They will face Olympic College on Friday in Bremerton, a team they beat earlier this season in another exciting match that was decided in the 5th set.
The final match of the season will be next Wednesday on the road at #8 ranked Bellevue.
Both matches are set for 7pm.