By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It took a bit of time, but the Class 1A Nisqually League Seattle Christian Warriors' volleyball team finally reached the right direction to flow past visiting Class 3A Seamount League High School in three non-league sets on Mon., Sept. 15, in SeaTac.

"I'm pleased and excited with this group of girls," said Seattle Christian head coach Aubrey Fox. "We've got some great senior leadership and young players stepping up to the jobs. We started slowly, but I'm proud of how they kept going. Once they got the flow and communication, they controlled the pace."

In the stuffy confines of the non-air conditioned gymnasium, the teams began the first set on equal terms and stayed that way for the duration of the set. Unforced Warrior errors and a quick starting Pirate squad led to exchanges of mini-runs after HHS posted leads of 5-1 and 9-5. Showing more continuity, the Pirates increased their lead to 11-6 with Joslyn Luidebina's drop shot keying the final two Highline points.
Seattle Christian gradually fought back to close within one point several times until the score read HHS 16 and SCS 15.

Due to the absence of consistent big hitting, the defenses were able to dig in and keep the rallies going as the teams fought to three ties until a net violation put the Warriors on top at 22-21. Two consecutive Pirate hitting errors placed Seattle Christian on the precipice of victory, but Highline staged a final surge to draw within 24-23 before SCS held serve.

Beginning the second set, the teams stayed close until Audri Gunderson set up Madelyn Weber, who split the middle for a kill to increase the SCS lead to 13-10. Two out of bounds hits by the Pirates sandwiched around a Gunderson big serve completed a four point Warrior run to make the SCS lead 16-10. Unfazed, Highline ran off four consecutive points.
Feeling the rhythm, Seattle Christian eventually increased its margin to 23-17 on a nice, dropping serve by Gunderson on the way to a 25-20 set victory.

"It took us awhile, but in the second and third sets, we played aggressively," said Weber.

Emulating the first two sets, the teams were embroiled locked into a 6-6 draw in the third set until the tide flowed completely in the favor of Seattle Christian.

The Warriors earned side out to begin a remarkable point outburst behind the tough serving of Taelor Willhoite and killing power of Abi Sauer. Thirteen consecutive Warriors points created a 13-point stream that turned a 6-5 deficit into 18-6 command for the Warriors as they continued en route to a 25-10 triumph in the final action.

"I just concentrated on getting the ball over," said Willhoite. "I wanted to control the pace, so I was prepared to serve quickly."
Sauer, a senior, paced SCS in kills with 11 while also adding five digs. Senior Madelyn Weber powered for eight kills and two digs while Willhoite notched four kills with three digs and three aces. Gunderson delivered 26 assists and three aces.

"The crowd really helped us get pumped up," said Sauer. "The passing is getting a lot better and we're getting used to our new setter."
For Highline, Luidebina earned 20 assists and three digs as senior Rebecaa Swanstrom was credited for eight digs. Samantha Faletogo was also strong for the Pirates.

Mary Legate, who coached volleyball and tennis at Tyee in the late 80's into the 90's, is a new, but veteran face in the coaching ranks gave her view as Highline coach.

"We were missing three players and it's my first real game since I've been back," she said. "I saw lots of good things. We were sharp at the beginning, but we need to keep the momentum. Possibly, more conditioning. It's very promising. We're working on the transition of returning and hitting. Graciana (Mecklenburg) and Taria (Tupua) were good."