Wildcat’s leap past Skyline

Published 9:21 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – The Mount Si girls’ volleyball team scored a four-set win last Thursday night over Skyline, by the scores of 16-14, 15-8, 9-15 and 15-9.

Stephanie Sales, Lyndsey Hyatt and Kristen Everett led the charge for the Wildcats, who improved their record to 7-3 in KingCo Conference play, a tie for second place in their division with Newport and one game back of Mercer Island.

The game started out with a tight first set, in which both teams held the lead. Skyline was within two points of winning, but Mount Si came back and tied the set at 13. Outside hitter Laurel Hooper’s ace closed out the first set for Mount Si.

The best set of the match was the second, in which Mount Si ran off two scoring streaks – the first being a 6-point streak to tie the game after Skyline had a 7-point run of its own. Then the ‘Cats closed out the set with an 8-0 run, capped off by a Sales’ ace.

Outside hitter Alison Neuenschwander made a key play at the net that helped Mount Si keep the serve midway through this run.

Skyline’s success came in the third set. The team successfully fended off a sweep, despite trailing 4-1 early on in the set. Middle blocker Karin Brevik had two key blocks to keep Mount Si in it, but the ‘Cats could not get the margin any closer than two points before falling in the set.

Mount Si then went on a 8-0 run to start the fourth and final set, opened up by a service ace from Hyatt. Skyline drew close late after being down 12-1 with another 6-point run of its own, but by that time it was too late for the Spartans, who fell to 4-6 in KingCo Conference play. A Skyline net violation ended the match with the Wildcats victorious.

Coach Bonnie Foote told the Valley Record that her team has been working on a lot of things, including keeping the momentum in games. She added the team’s next opponent, Issaquah, is undefeated in conference play.