Great spirit and perseverance in Monday's South Puget Sound League volleyball match rekindled a Thomas Jefferson 3-1 close escape win at Federal Way.

TJ finished the season at 2-6 in league and 6-6 overall with a sweep of the other Federal Way School District high schools.

"We were out of synch a lot and hurting without our back row leader April Crozier, who was hit in the head within the first 10 points," observed Raider head coach Megan Melver."We missed her leadership, but we slowly and steadily chipped away by continuing to do the little things well. We went back to basics. Our seniors did a great job of leadership."

Excellent plays mixed with unforced errors were featured in a back and forth battle for supremacy in the first action packed game. Federal Way led 12-11 and used front row heroics to extend its margin to 15-11 only to have Jefferson jolt the Eagles for three consecutive points capped by a combined block from Megan Levesque and Unique Tau Faasau.

Joette Dunnihoo's kill from the left side shot Federal Way back to a five point advantage at 19-14. Thomas Jefferson thundered into contention with a 4-0 run to trail only 19-18. Cristiana Ventura and Carly Bottemiller stepped up for the Eagles to control the play at net.

Federal Way continued to move to the ball faster and more aggressively. Dunnihoo served an ace in the final 6-0 Eagle run to a 25-18 win.

"We've improved our defense," observed the Eagles' Kara Highberg. "The final result was bittersweet, but we kept our intensity to the end."

Katelyn Nugent took charge at the net for TJ early as part of the 7-2 beginning control of the second game. Nugent's kill later took the Raiders into a 14-8 control.

Behind Ventura's serve, Jessica Garman directed a Federal Way flow that drew the Eagles within 14-12. After countering with three consecutive points, TJ maintained leads that ranged from three to five.

Repulsing repeated rallies, the Raiders were in control at 23-19 until Federal Way found the energy to close within 23-22. Jefferson scored a point that was countered by a 3-0 Federal Way salvo, but Nugent came through to tie the score at 25-25.

Indecision on the Eagle back row enabled the Raiders to gain a point. Jefferson won the game on a Federal Way return that found the net.
"Our goal was to keep moving and keep the team together," explained Nugent who finished with 25 kills and nine blocks. "No one gave up. We focused on the positive."

Continuing the torrid play, the squads battled to a 16-16 deadlock in the third game. Courtney Stute's dipping serve proved hard to handle for the Jefferson receivers as the Raiders built a 21-16 margin.

Monica McConnaughey effectively hit while Stute also served an ace during this stretch. Jefferson steadily worked itself back to a deficit of 23-22. The Eagles scored the next point before the Raiders stormed back with three unanswered points. Nugent navigated for a kill and a stuff block at this stretch.

A net serve brought the game into a 25-25 tie. A violation cost the Eagles one point and Nugent blocked a shot in the middle to end the game.

"We had a lot of energy coming out," said senior Crozier. "I had to sit out because I've had two concussions. It was nice to finish with a win."

In the fourth game, Thomas Jefferson broke from a 9-8 edge for a 13-8 lead. Federal Way closed to trail 14-12, but never got closer. Tough serving and explosive kills kept the Raiders clear for a 25-18 triumph in the final game. Control of the net was the overriding factor throughout the match up.

"We really had spirit," said TJ's Kendra Ansotigue, who slammed 12 kills and collected 20 digs. "We really wanted to win our last game. We just stuck through it and worked hard."

Although her team lost, Federal Way's Dunnihoo appreciated the effort.

"The result is killing me," she said. "It's disappointing. We've improved a lot over the year."

Allie Crowe contributed to the TJ cause with 31 aces, 14 digs and six aces. Raider Andrina Tanielu served three aces to go with Megan Levesque's three blocks.

Federal Way's Monica McConnaughey blasted 14 kills with nine digs and two aces. Cristiana Ventura collected 19 assists while also adding three kills and three digs for the Eagles while teammate Jaleecia Rowland notched eight kills and four blocks. Erin Martinez accounted for 19 digs.

"The girls showed great effort and hustled," said Federal Way head coach Donja Walker. "TJ had some great servers that reallly bothered our receivers. We really worked well on defense."

Federal Way finished its season with three wins and great improvement from week to week.