Wildcats solidify volleyball playoff chance

Published 9:02 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Mount Si Wildcats vollyball team solidified its playoff hopes and put a serious crimp in the playoff chances for the Mercer Island Islanders, as the Wildcats upset the Islanders three games to one in Kingco 3A volleyball action last Monday at Mount Si High School. Scores were 10-15, 15-5, 15-9 and 15-9 in a match where the Wildcats pretty much had their way with the Islanders, despite the continued strong fight of Mercer Island.

The win marked Wildcat coach Bonnie Foote’s first win over the Islanders in her four years as coach of the Wildcats, and the win was important since the Wildcats moved to within half a game of first place in the Valley Division. Despite the win, Foote wanted more. “We didn’t play our best match but you know what, we played well enough to win and we needed this win bigger than life, and I’ve never beat[en] Mercer Island since I’ve been here,” said the coach.

Game one opened with the Islanders breaking out quickly to a 3-0 lead, but the strong serving of junior Kristina Turple and the strong front-court play of sophomore Emilie Aaltonen (she had two key kills in the sequence) lifted the Wildcats into what would become a 6-3 lead. The Islanders fought back, tieing the game at 6-6. But the Wildcats took back the lead, behind the efforts of juniors Jaclyn Boals and Maggie Olson, among others. The lead peaked at 10-6, then the Islanders tied the score again at 10-10 and rolled to the first-game win.