Everett, WA – The Trojans returned home on Friday night looking to snap a three-game skid, but would have a tough task in front of them facing the #4 ranked Bellevue Bulldogs. Battling through injuries the Trojans showed grit through an intense first set that saw 15 ties and neither team leading by more than 3 points. Everett trailed 15-12 but battled back to tie the match at 16 after a massive kill from Annika Mason. EvCC could not quite reclaim the lead and the Bulldogs had match point at 24-22. But the Trojans did not give in easily and tied the match at 24, 25, and 26 before BC finally prevailed in set one 28-26. Annika Mason had 3 kills, as did Jolena Hoefer and Malia Shepherd.
In the second set, Everett continued to show heart and jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Bellevue proved why they are a top ranked team, and showed composure to weather the storm and climb all the way back to tie the match at 10. They used that momentum, despite two EvCC timeouts to extend their lead with a 10-2 run. The Trojans were able to climb back to within five points, but Bellevue closed it out on two consecutive points to claim set two, 25-18. Malia Shepherd led the team with 5 kills and Annika Jones posted 3 kills.
Everett once again got on the board first in set three with a Malia Shepherd kill and Camille Clarke's service ace. Bellevue got back in the driver's seat with a 5-1 run and forced coach Williams to use her first timeout of the set when the Bulldogs took an 8-5 lead. Bellevue pushed the lead out to as many as five but the Trojans put together a 7-2 run to tie the match at 16. BC responded with a 4-1 run to go up 20-17 and Coach Williams took her last timeout. Out of the break Bellevue had a service error that spurred a Katie Serles serving run of three points, and a Malia Shepherd kill tied the game at 22. Everett then capitalized on two attack errors and it would be the Bulldogs forced to take a timeout trailing 24-22 at match point. Bellevue scratched out a point, but the Trojans took set three after an Annika Jones kill. Everett as a team combined for 12 kills and 6 service aces.
Bellevue began the fourth set with purpose and jumped out to a 7-3 lead before Coach Williams took an early timeout to stop the momentum. The short break work and EvCC responded to go on a 4-1 run to tie the game at 8. Back and forth the match would go until Everett took their first lead at 13-12 on an Annika Jones kill. The two teams remained equally matched and Bellevue fought back to reclaim the lead at 18-17. A four-point Bellevue run had Coach Williams take her second timeout in hopes to slow the Bellevue attack. The Trojans were able to keep it close but ultimately the Bulldogs prevailed 25-20 to take the set and the match.
Malia Shepherd had a huge 20 kill night, the third time this season she's registered 20 or more kills. She also had 15 digs and 3 service aces. Annika Jones recorded double digit kills for the 11th time this season with 11 kills and also had 2 blocks at the net. Katie Serles returned to the lineup tonight after injury and had 33 assists to go with 19 digs. Camille Clarke also returned to the lineup after injury and posted 17 digs with 3 service aces. And another sophomore Jolena Hoefer posted 9 kills, nearly reaching her career high of 10.
The Trojans will get a much-needed break with next Wednesday off and not playing again until October 13th when they face Shoreline to begin the second round of region play. With six matches left on the schedule there is still plenty of time to make a push for the NWAC playoffs.