Volleyball and girls swimming and diving have their state events this weekend, and the North Olympic Peninsula will be represented as both seasons come to their climactic conclusions.
Volleyball
Port Angeles and Quilcene both qualified for their respective state tournaments by winning a five-set match for their district’s final state berth.
The Roughriders (12-7) made 2A tourney by beating rival Sequim in the West Central District playoffs.
They open state this morning (9:45 a.m.) against the Capital Cougars (14-1), who haven’t lost since falling to Tumwater (15-3) on Oct. 8.
As the District 4 champs, Capital has to be considered one of the favorites to win the state title, and heavy favorites to beat Port Angeles.
But the Cougars would be wise to not let the Riders hang around. Port Angeles has won all three of its five-set matches in the postseason, and hasn’t dropped one since its second match of the season against Klahowya.
The winner of this match will face the winner between Squalicum (11-7) and East Valley of Spokane (11-5) tonight.
The losers of the two matches will face off in the losers bracket this afternoon.
The 2A tournament is being held at Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood.
Quilcene at 1B tourney
The Rangers are making their first state volleyball appearance since 1992.
But many of Quilcene’s players are already state-tested, having placed fourth at the 1B state softball tournament earlier this season.
And with only one senior and one junior on this year’s volleyball roster, it’s likely the Rangers won’t have to wait 21 years before making another state appearance.
Quilcene opens the 1B tournament today against undefeated Pateros at 1:30 p.m. at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The Nannies (16-0) are the No. 1 seed from District 6.
The winner plays the winner between Three Rivers Christian and Christian Faith, while the loser plays the loser of that match later in the day.
Swimming and Diving
Port Angles, Port Townsend and Sequim will compete at the 2A state swimming meet at King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
The preliminaries are today at 2:30 p.m.. The top 16 will move onto the finals Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
The two-time district champion Roughriders are taking 16 athletes to compete three relays and 15 individual events at the state championships.
Going into state, Port Angeles’ best chance at a title is its 200-yard medley relay team of Ashlee Reid, Carter Juskevich, Jaine Macias and Audra Perrizo. That team is has the No. 2 seed in the preliminaries behind Pullman.
Individually, Reid has the third seed in the 100 freestyle, and the fourth seed in the 100 backstroke. She won the West Central District title in both events.
Juskevich holds the third seed in the 100 breaststroke, in which she is the district champion.
Juskevich also will compete in the 200 freestyle.
Macias will join Juskevich in the 200 free and will compete in the 100 backstroke.
Perrizo and Kylee Reid will swim at state in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle.
Brooke Sires will compete in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.
Haily Scott is the third Roughrider to compete in the 100 freestyle, along with Sires and Ashlee Reid.
Port Angeles also will send relay teams in the 200 and 400 freestyle. Megan McKenna will swim with the 200 freestyle relay team.
Izi Livesay and Haili Farnam will represent Port Angeles in the 1-meter dive.
For Port Townsend, Rose Ridder will compete in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. Chloe Rogers also qualified in the 50 free.
Jayne Richardson will swim in the 200 free, along with two of the Redskins’ three relay events.
She will join Ismay Gale, Rogers and Ridder on the 200 free relay, and Keira Matkins, Rogers and Ridder on the 400 free relay.
The 200 medley relay team consists of Madison Braden, Hana McAdam, Sarah Allen and Rogers.
Port Townsend also has one diver going to state, Rachel Ramsey.
Sequim is sending two to state: Diver Emily Van Dyken and Dani Barrow, who earned wildcard status in the 200 individual medley.
Football
The Peninsula’s only football team still playing, Neah Bay, has a bye this week after wrapping up the west’s top seed with a win over Lopez last week.
The top-ranked Red Devils will play the winner between No. 2 Liberty Christian and Cusick.
Both of those teams were 1B semifinalists last season, and Liberty Christian beat Neah Bay on a last-second play in the state championship game.
As of Thursday, the Red Devils will play the Patriots or Panthers next Saturday, Nov. 23, at Silverdale Stadium at 1 p.m.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
