Bellingham, WA – After a disappointing three set loss to Bellevue on the road last Friday, the Trojans had a full week to gear up for the second round of north region action. Back on September 21st, Everett shocked the region by upsetting then ranked #5 Whatcom in a dramatic five set affair at the Walt Price Center. Since that loss, the Orcas went on to go 3-2, but they too were coming off a 3-0 loss at the hands of Bellevue and looking to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.
Whatcom showed that determination in the first set by building out a lead by as much as four, but Everett fought back to tie the set at 13-13. There would be two more ties before the home Orcas took a two point lead at 20-18. A service error however would jump start a 7-1 run by the Trojans and they would take the opening set 25-21. Attack leaders, Erin Ingram and Malia Shepherd each recorded 3 kills hinting that they would both have another solid night above the net.
Whatcom again got out to a big start in set two, taking an 8-2 lead but it was stymied by a resilient Everett squad who put together another 7-1 run that was sparked by an Orca service error and two straight service aces from setter Katie Serles. At 9-9 Whatcom took a timeout which for the time being seemed to settle WCC, drawing the score to 14-13 in favor of the Trojans. But the hope did not last long as Everett scored 9 unanswered putting the set out of reach and eventually winning 25-16. Freshman setter Katie Serles had a strong set, recording 8 assists to go with her two service aces.
The Orcas would not go away quietly on their own home floor and the 3rd set, after seven ties and three lead changes, would be taken by Whatcom thanks in large part to 11 errors by the Trojans.
Whatcom continued their momentum in the 4th set and built out to a seven-point lead at 17-10. Everett was never really able to carve into that margin getting as close as four at 22-18. WCC closed it out 25-19 on a couple of kills and a service ace.
The Trojans were on the ropes heading into the 5th set, but this was their 6th, five-set match of the season and their second against Whatcom, of which they won. With that confidence, Everett hit the reset button and saddled up for the most competitive set of the match.
After 8 ties and four lead changes, Everett took a 13-11 lead forcing a Whatcom timeout. The Orcas came out of the break with a kill from Maya Galley, her 11th of the match, but standout freshman (ranked #2 in the NWAC in kills) Malia Shepherd responded with a kill of her own. On match point, Whatcom's Emily House fired a hit just long giving Everett the 15-12 set, and match win.
Malia Shepherd had another double-double night with 16 kills and 21 digs. Denna Gibb also had 21 digs, the second time this season she has had 20 or more, and just shy of her season high of 22. Erin Ingram had four of the team's 10 service aces to go along with 10 kills and 1.5 blocks to total 15.5 points. Setting duties were shared evenly with sophomore Jayda Grosboll recording 14 assists and freshman Katie Serles racking up 17.
The Trojans improve their record to 5-2 in north region play, 16-10 overall. They currently sit in third place in the standings, one game behind both Skagit Valley and Bellevue and will face Shoreline next Wednesday, a team that is hungry for their first north region win. Match time is set for 7pm at the Walt Price Center.