Everett, WA – The number five ranked Trojans returned to the Walt Price Center for the first time since August 30th when the Trojans hosted a doubleheader with Wenatchee Valley and Tacoma, winning both matches decisively. From that date, EvCC went on to win ten more matches, climb into the top ten NWAC rankings for the first time in nearly a decade and enter north region play with a 15-5 record, the best start in the program's 45-year history.
EvCC would face Shoreline in the north region opener, a team with familiar faces, led by head coach A'laisia Redden now in her second season and spent one year as an assistant with the Trojans back in 2021. A'laisia's sister M'Kailah Redden is also on staff with the Shoreline and in her first year with the Dolphins after spending the previous four with EvCC as an assistant. M'Kailah was a big piece in helping turn around the Trojan program alongside head coach Whitney Williams.
Shoreline opened up tough, and took a 6-4 lead to start the match, but the Trojans rattled off nine straight points on five kills to reclaim the lead 12-8. The Dolphins regained composure and fought back to within one at 15-14, but a well-timed Malia Shepherd kill with authority jump started a 10-4 run that sealed a first set win, 25-18. Sophomores, Jolena Hoefer and Annika Jones led the way with 4 kills apiece and Malia Shepherd added 3 kills and led defensively with 6 digs.
Set two was back and forth through the first 20 points, neither team building more than a three-point lead. A 3-0 Shoreline run, tying the set at 10-10 prompted coach Williams to call an EvCC timeout. Everett proceeded to rattle off 4 straight, three via kills and Shoreline answered with a timeout of their own. The Trojan assault continued with another 4-1 run, and coach Redden called the Dolphins' final timeout of the set. The short break was to no avail, and EvCC rolled to a 25-17 set win. Malia Shepherd and Lesieli Hall each had 4 kills, but 7 service errors by the Trojans prevented what would have otherwise been a route.
The third set was never close, using a 12-0 run to set up a 25-8 set and match win. Malia Shepherd finished the match with 12 kills, 11 digs, and a service ace. Freshman Jessica Eames had 6 kills on 9 attacks, and Annika Jones added 7 kills on 15 attempts. Setter Katie Serles had a 32 assist night, with 5 digs, and tied a career high 6 services.
The Trojans get the north region opener win, and improve their overall record to 16-5. Their next match will be on the road at Whatcom on Friday, September 22nd, and then will have a big homecoming in one week against rivals Edmonds College.