Everett, WA – On sophomore night the Trojans faced first place in the north and #5 ranked in the NWAC Bellevue Bulldogs. EvCC clinched a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last week, but lost in the previous match to Skagit Valley on the road, and were looking to close out the regular season with what could be a momentous upset win.
Set one began with a Bellevue point and a later seven-point run put the Bulldogs up 9-6. Everett fought back to regain the lead at 11-10 on a Malia Shepherd service ace, but BC answered with three straight points. EvCC came back to tie the match at 16 on a Denna Gibb service ace, yet Bellevue's 4 point run in response made it difficult for Everett to climb back in the match and ultimately dropped the opening set 25-20.
In the second set Everett claimed the first two points, and even built out to a 3-point lead when Jessica Daode recorded her first kill of the match. The match would be tied at 10, and Everett would keep it a one-point affair at 15-14, but Bellevue proved to be tough at the net and closed out set two with four straight points at 25-16.
Bellevue rode the momentum into set three and jumped out to a 13-7 lead. The deficit would grow to as much as 7 at 21-14, and by the end Bellevue capped off the set and match win by a final score of 25-16.
Statistically it was a tough night for EvCC with the Bellevue defense playing well and coming up with 52 digs and 12 blocks. Malia Shepherd had led the team with 7 kills, and Jayda Grosboll recorded 19 assists. Defensively Erin Ingram and Denna Gibb led the team in digs with 10 and 9 respectively.
Everett will have Friday night off, while the rest of the North region will finish out their regular season schedule. As it shapes out, it appears as though the Trojans will head to Albany, OR in the regional round of the NWAC playoffs where they will face #1 seed and #1 ranked Linn-Benton. The regionals will also consist of the #2 seed from the east region and the #3 seed from the west region in a double elimination style tournament in which two teams will advance to the final 8 teams in Lakewood on November 18th at Pierce College.