Wolverines Drop Thriller to MI
When the schedule came out this year, the first game circled was the home game versus Mercer Island. MI has been the top team in the league for the last few years and they came to Bellevue Wednesday matching the Wolverines perfect record this year.
The gym was near capacity. The band was in the house as were dozen of students making the scene worthy of a top flight match. Alexis Khuu started the game with an ace and the game was on. Sophia Knapp got the serve down 3-5 and quickly dealt an ace. The next 2 points came from back row kills by Callie Weber and BHS was able to get up to an 8-6 lead. After a side out, Holly Huard smashed one down the line to go back up 9-7. The game was tight the rest of the way. After being tied at 14-14, Jenna Kennan slammed one from the middle to give the Wolverines a slim 15-14 lead. But, MI then got things going and built a 16-20 lead before a Bellevue time out. A Huard block and a Hanna Geffe ace got the score to 19-20. A deep free ball was delivered by Carly Burns that hit the back line and we were tied at 22. Each team had a service error and MI was able to get the point they needed to go up 23-24. Islander Senior hitter, Kelly Behrbaum put away the game winner to give MI game 1, 23-25.
Game 2 was another close battle with both teams making adjustments. The rallies got longer. A Weber kill closed the gap to 8-10 and then Khuu and Katie Sorrell combined for a block on the outside to get the serve back. Khuu dealt another ace and after a Weber kill, BHS had tied it up a 11. Naomi Chen-Mallouck got a couple a kills with the last one knotting the score at 15. A Weber ripper tied it up at 20. Huard crushed one to give BHS a 24-23 lead and a chance to serve for the game. However, MI was up for the task and after a well placed tip and a hit off our block, Mercer Island took the game, 24-26.
BHS came out with a purpose in game 3 vaulting out to a 6-0 lead behind Khufu’s serving that included a couple of more aces. A Huard kill stretched the lead to 10-3. After taking Bellevue’s best shot, MI came roaring back tying the game at 11. BHS was up for the task and with Weber in the front row, the Wolverines went up 18-13 behind 4 more Weber kills. MI wasn’t able to recover and BHS went on to win game 3 comfortably, 25-17.
Bellevue kept the momentum going and after a couple of Weber kills were up 3-1. Kennan and Chen-Mallouck combined for a block and the Huard got a block of her own and BHS was up 6-2. A Huard kill gave the Wolverines a 10-3 lead and Bellevue looked to be on their way sending this to a 5th game. Mercer Island was able to slowly chip away at the lead and were able to tie the match at 14 and then again 16. A Huard tip made the score 17-18 but MI had found another gear. Huard hardest smash of the night made the game 20-21 and sent the crowd into a roar. But, that was the last cheer of the match as MI put away game 4, 21-25, and the match 3-1.
Weber lead the team with 23 kills. Khuu keyed the offense with 30 assists and lead the team with 5 aces. Sorrell, Khuu, Huard, and Keenan all had 2 blocks. Knapp and Weber each had 15 digs to anchor the defense.
These are two of the best teams in the area and the state and it will be interesting to see them play again. Put October 16th on your calendar for the rematch on the Island.
