FORKS — In a battle for second place in the Evregreen 1A league, the Forks volleyball girls played Montesano tough in their final home match of the year, falling 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19).
Elliahna Kilmer led the Spartans with eight kills, four blocks and four aces. Jayden Olson and Rian Peters each had sic kills, with Petters adding two blocks, 11 digs and two aces.
“Although we didn’t come out with a win, we showed our skills as a team again and played to our best ability,” said Rian Peters. “Being senior night, we all had so many emotions but we pulled through and really displayed how we can play as individuals and a team. [I’m] excited to see how districts go.”
Natalie Lausche had five kills, two blocks and served 100 percent. Kray Horton had 23 assists, while Kyra Neel had five kills and four blocks. Myah Rondeau added 17 digs.
With the win, Montesano is 5-2 in league, while Forks is third at 4-3. The Spartans next play undefeated league champion Elma on the road today in their regular-season finale.
The Spartans (4-3, 10-4) begin play in the District 4 1A tournament on Wednesday against Castle Rock (7-2, 11-3), the No. 2 seed out of the Trico League in a loser-out match. This match is at 5:30 p.m. at Montesano High School. If the Spartans win, they play Elma at 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer Sequim 1, Kingston 0
KINGSTON — Forced to play patiently against the Buccaneers tightly-packed defense, the Wolves got the goal it needed to win and earn the Olympic League’s third seed to the district tournament.
And it was cold.
“It was really, really cold,” Sequim coach Derek Vander Velde said.
“I think the girls played really well. They played against a team that parked the bus [deliberately played defensively] and we haven’t really encountered that.
“So it was about playing with patience, being calm and waiting for opportunities to present themselves. When you are playing a team that will park eight players back, you have to trust your teammates, trust the system and find the back of the net.”
The Wolves did that in the second half, getting the winning goal right around the hour mark.
“Jessica Dietzman had the ball approaching the top of the 18 with two defenders coming at her,” Vander Velde said. “She split the defenders with a well-timed pass to Daisy Ryan and she hit it left-footed to the back of the net.”
Kingston opened up offensively after that, but it didn’t make a difference on the scoreboard.
“They tried to push forward and it opened up the field for us,” Vander Velde said. “We got more shots on goal but we already got the one we needed.”
Sequim (7-5-0, 9-5-1) faces a loser-out Class 2A West Central District Tournament game against Lindbergh, the No. 4 seed out of the South Puget Sound League at 2 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma.
The Eagles (10-2-1, 11-6-1) won the SPSL North Division title but stumbled in two league tournament contests — falling 3-1 to White River and 1-0 to Orting.
Vander Velde scouted the first round of the SPSL playoffs last Saturday and saw Lindbergh play.
“I feel like they leave some holes on the field and we will try to exploit those holes, if they park the bus, we have some experience with that now,” he said.
“Not all the games have to be pretty, sometimes you have to grind them out.”
If the Wolves win and advance to the double-elimination portion of the tournament, they’ll face Orting at Lang Stadium in Lakewood at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
