CHIMACUM — The prep volleyball season got back on the court after a 15-month COVID-19 pandemic hiatus with the Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Chimacum girls clashing in Chimacum.
Port Angeles coach Jennifer Reynolds said one of the best parts of the first match of the year Tuesday night was a huge send-off given to the girls by the Roughriders’ football team as they departed the high school.
“The football team lined the street as we left to cheer us on,” Reynolds said.
The Roughriders won five games from the East Jefferson team, which will play as a combine in the Class 1A/2A/3A Olympic League.
The Port Angeles girls won 25-19, 25-23, 25-15, 25-21, 15-10.
Normally, the match would have been decided after three games, but the teams played five games to get in extra play after such a long layoff, Reynolds said.
Kennedy Bruch and Zoe Zmithson each played the setter position for the Riders. Bruch was an outside hitter for the Roughriders when they last played in November 2019 and she played libero at the club level, so it was a new position for her, Reynolds said.
“They’ve been doing a good job learning both positions and running the offense,” Reynolds said. “We’re really focusing on smart attacks this year and exploiting open spots on the court.”
Reynolds said Emma Olsen “was all over the court” in the libero position, while frontline hitter Jaida Wood was “unstoppable at the net.”
The Roughriders (1-0) next play today at Olympic. East Jefferson (1-0) plays at Klahowya.
Clallam Bay 3, Crescent 0
JOYCE — The Bruins beat the Loggers 25-11, 25-17, 25-10 in the opening match of the year for both squads.
Like Port Angeles and East Jefferson, the squads played five games to get in extra floor time.
“Everyone was able to adjust well with COVID guidelines. Our serving is really what got it done,” said Clallam Bay coach Amanda Maines. She said Clallam Bay is a young team with five freshmen, four eighth-graders and only two seniors.
Clallam Bay hosts Quilcene tonight, while Crescent hosts Mary M. Knight next Tuesday.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
