Everett, WA - The Trojans earned a pair of wins at home on Wednesday night, hosting both Wenatchee Valley College and Tacoma Community College. Coming off a stellar weekend where EvCC went 3-1 against four 2022 playoff teams, the Trojans opened up against 2-2 Wenatchee Valley College out of the East Region. Set number one showed two very evenly matched teams as the margin never grew more than 2 points until Everett went on a 7-0 run to build a 19-13 lead. WVC got back to within two at 21-19, but the Trojans closed out the first set on a 4 point run, 25-19. Malia Shepherd led the way with 4 kills and a service ace to total 5 points.
Set two was very similar, going back and forth with the set tied at 12. Everett gained some seperation by going on a three point run starting with a Shepherd kill, and two straight service aces. The margin however remained tight and after leading 24-20 gave up three straight points to get the home faithful on the edge of their seats. Out of an Everett timeout, the Trojans got an unexpected kill from Camille Clarke who is normally known for her defensive presence and took the second set.
EvCC however was a touch out of sync in the third set, and Wenatchee Valley showed that they are a very capable team, winning 25-23. The set loss seemed to refocus the home Trojans, and the 4th set would be the final one, as EvCC cruised to a 25-12 set and match win. Malia Shepherd had a team high 18 kills, complimented with 4 service aces and 10 digs. Fellow sophomore Jolena Hoefer added 10 kills with a .348 hitting percentage. Defensively Camille Clarke recorded 28 digs and Annika Jones also had double digit digs with 11, and added 5 kills. Katie Serles managed the setting duties and tossed 37 assists, while also getting 5 kills and a service ace.
In the second match of the night, Everett faced Tacoma who had just come off of a thrilling 3-2 win over north region rival Shoreline CC on the opposite court. Tacoma jumped out to a 7-2 lead that was diminished by a an 11-5 run, capped with a Malia Shepherd kill to put EvCC on top 14-13. Tacoma kept things close but the Trojan attack was too much at the net recording 12 kills and 3 service aces. Everett prevailed in set one, 25-19.
The Trojans again flexed their muscles in set two, taking the first two points via service ace and a kill. The Lead grew to as much as 6 on an Annika Mason Kill, early in the set. Then Sophomore Annika Jones got things rolling finishing out the set with three kills to bank the 25-18 win.
The third set was all Trojans who cruised to a 25-14 set win, sweeping the Titans in three. Malia Shepherd again led the team with 15 kills, while Annika Jones added 10. Freshman Annika Mason played well with a new season high 7 kills and also recorded a block. Tacoma did not help their cause with 13 attack errors and 7 service errors, while Everett hit a team season high for the .414 effeciency and limited errors on their end.
The two wins moves Everett to 5-1 on the season with a big Labor Day Weekend ahead. The Trojans will head east to Columbia Basin College with matches scheduled against Blue Mountain (0-0), Umpqua (3-3), Columbia Basin (2-2), and Lower Columbia (5-0). Play begins on Friday, September 1st at 11am.