In a nonleague clash of South Puget Sound League 4A schools, North Division Mount Rainier lost its third volleyball match in a row as it prepares for upcoming league action.
Continuing their learning experiences, the host Rams fell to strong South Division Curtis 3-0 on Thursday, Sept. 15.
"We have a good mixture of classes on our team," said MR had coach Danny Lum-Lung. "Without year-round players, we are slowly getting to our goals, building from the bottom up. We make do with what we've got. When we get out of the nonleague schedule, we'll be very competitive. Since we're no longer new to the SPSL, we'll try to take some teams by surprise. Our captains played a little bit in the second game and sat out the third game. Curtis is tough and our team saw where they need to get."
According to Lum-Lum, senior Megan Tron-Daley and junior Mykaela Mohammed are key players with leadership characteristics as well as phenomenal playing skills. Most of the squad has played together since last year with less than a handful of newcomers.
In game one, Mount Rainier jumped to a 3-0 lead and still led at 7-5 before the experienced Vikings quickly sailed away.Taina Kanar's kill from the left side began an 11-1 Curtis scoring surge that was ended by a kill from the Rams' Mykaela Mohammed.
Mount Rainier closed within 17-12, but the Jeff Grosshans-coached Curtis squad continued its control of the front line and passing strategy for a 25-13 win.
Leading 3-2 in the second game, the Vikings rolled off nine consecutive points en route to a 25-7 victory.
As both teams made extensive use of reserves, game No. 3 was battled on an even keel with the largest margin being three points by Mount Rainier at 13-10. The Rams were ahead 15-13 only to have the Vikings pour it on with 12 consecutive points to end the night's proceedings.
Kanar paced Curtis with nine kills and five aces. Natalie Brundage chipped in with eight kills while Brooke Litsky added five kills. Emily Franham dished out 24 assists.
In abbreviated game minutes dictated by the match situations, Mount Rainier was led by Amanda Goucher's five digs and two kills. Sara Westhoff earned one dig, two kills and two assists.
Sophomores Gabby Christopher and Rachael Monahan will add to the Ram experience when they come off the injured list.
Besides the previously mentioned players, the 2011 Ram player roster features Aman Daobviously (Jr.), Belle Bellerson (So.), Corey Nguyen (Sr.), Catalina Brown (Sr.), Olivia O'Moss (Sr.), Mary Ryding (Sr.), Jenna Nye (So.), Sara Westhoff (Fr.), Kelsey Dunn (Jr.), Tristen Vong (Jr.), Sara Weigeth (Jr.) and Jackie Agosto (Sr.).
Here are detailed results from the Kent Classic over the weekend:
Round 1 pool play
Curtis def Mt Rainier 25-14, 25-16
Mt Rainier stats
Gabby Christopher 1ace 2 kills
Amanda Goucher 1ace 2 kills
Mykaela Klingler 3 kills
Megan Daley 4 digs 2assists 1kill
Jenna Nye 4 assists
Jackie Agusto 4 digs
Bothell def Mt Rainier 25-21, 25-23
Mt Rainier stats
Gabby Christopher 2 aces 2 digs 2 kills
Amanda Goucher 1ace 1block 5 kills
Mykaela Klingler 1ace 6 kills
Megan Daley 3 digs 2 kills 3 assists
Jenna Nye 1ace 1block 3 digs 12 assists
Sarah Weigelt 4digs
Belle Eliason 4digs
Round 2
Newport def Mt Rainier 25-13, 25-12
Mt rainier stats
Amanda Goucher 1ace 2digs 3kills
Mykaela klingler 3digs 1block 5kills
Jenna Nye 1ace 7assists
T Beamer def Mt. Rainier 25-11, 25-15
Mt Rainier stats
Gabby Christopher 4kills
Mykaela Klingler 5 kills 2 digs 1block
Sara Westhoff 11assists
Bracket play
Mt Rainier def Mt Tahoma 25-15, 25-23
Mt Rainier stats
Gabby Christopher 4 aces 4 kills
Amanda Goucher 4 digs 3 kills
Mykaela Klingler 1ace 4 kills
Jenna Nye 7aces 9 assists 3 kills
Rachael Monahan 4 digs
Tahoma HS def Mt Rainier 25-4, 22-25, 15-3
Mt Rainier stats
Gabby Christopher 1ace 3 kills
Amanda Goucher 2 digs 5 kills
Mykaela Klingler 2 aces 2 digs 1 kill
Olivia Moss 2 digs 2 blocks 3 kills
Jenna Nye 10 assists 1kill
Sarah Weigelt 5 digs
Rachael Monahan 7digs 2 kills
