Wolverines Can't Roll Tides
Bellevue Drops Final to Gig Harbor at State Tourney But Makes History
Playing for fifth and sixth place were the Wolverines and the #1 ranked Gig Harbor who came into the tournament on a 19 game winning streak only losing their first match of the season to 4A powerhouse, Bellarmine. But, The Tides had been beat by BHS rival, Mercer Island, the night before.
Bellevue was not intimidated and a Keenan kill lead to a Huard ace to go up 8-6. But, Gig Harbor took the game over from that point and although a Weber kill closed it to 17-19, the Tides took the game, 19-25.
Witham, playing her last game as a Wolverine, saved her best for last. She had a block and three kills gave tied the game before Knapp made back to back aces to go up 10-8. The Tides showed why they are #1 taking the game over and leading 16-20. A Weber kill followed by a Khuu ace closed the gap to 18-20. Khuu sets Weber in the back row and Callie puts it away to tie it at 22. A long rally ends when Khuu digs it, Knapp bump sets it, and Weber again puts away the back row smash to tie it at 23. A Huard kill makes it 25-24. Bellevue finally prevails, 27-25.
Chen-Mallouk got a kill and a block and Bellevue had an early 5-3 in game three. A Kennan block was followed by a Huard kill and BHS was up 14-10. 6-1 Gig Harbor Senior, Rachel Howard, turned it on and took over the match and GHHS took game 20-25.
I’d like to say game four was close and we were yet again going to game five, but that didn’t happen. It was all Gig Harbor as the effects of 19 games in 28 hours showed. The girls gave all they had to the end but the Tides took game four, 12-25 and the fifth place trophy.