By Gerardo Bolong

TACOMA - Evergreen High School (White Center) duked it out for five sets against Port Angeles before the Roughriders ousted the Wolverines at the Class 2A West Central District tournament, 25-15, 23-25, 25-13, 22-25, 15-10 in a loser-out match at Franklin Pierce High School.

"I'm really proud," said first-year head coach Robyn Schirmer. "We set goals of becoming more students of volleyball to understand the concepts better, improve our league scoring and improve our league placing league placing. We accomplished all our goals and got experience. It was tough to lose, but for my first year it was fun. This is something we can build on."

The first set began with early energy for the Wolverines in a 6-1 lead before the Roughriders ran back within 6-5. Evergreen led 9-7, but a huge turnaround started for Port Angeles in a 7-0 surge that pushed the Roughriders into a 14-9 advantage that the Wolverines never overcame as PA outscored Evergreen 11-6 down the stretch.

Evergreen (9-11) electrified itself in the second set behind Stephani Herrera's serving and Port Angeles mistakes to lead 18-12, but Port Angeles worked itself back to eventually tie the set at 23-23. The final turn came on a twisting two-hand shot by Maria Martinez that sent the Wolverines to set point. Cecilia VU set for a Caroline Tupa cross court kill as Evergreen grabbed the second set.

After a slim early lead in the third set by the Wolverines, the Roughriders ran roughshod to keep the Wolverines out of contention the rest of the set en route to claiming the third set.

Evergreen showed its courage in a fourth set battle royal.
After Evergreen roared to an early 8-1 lead, Port Angeles had the best of it in long rallies to climb within 15-12 before Tupa's net play led a point, igniting a three-point Wolverine surge.

Keeping its opponent from completely closing in, Evergreen led by a scant 21-19. The next sequence of events put the Seamount representative at set point. Port Angles served into the net ahead of Caroline Tupa's front line kill. Mailelei Faletogo's served was too tough to return and the Wolverines were set to win.The Roughriders would not go away quietly, rallying to trail 24-22 before Tupa's tip at net wrapped up the set and sent the teams into a fifth, fateful set.

Although the Wolverine girls showed a lot of fight, it was the Roughriders who got the drop early and extended their lead for the set win and survival for another day.

"We feel good about about what we did and experienced a taste of what it's like," said junior Faletogo. "In the off season, we'll train harder now that we know what to expect."

According Schirmer receiving of service was a key issue.

Based on three points being the ultimate for service receive stats, here is how it broke down for Evergreen. Maria Martinez was excellent with 2.4 while Heilala Proctor was good at 2.0. Other leaders were Christina Diaz (1.9), Stephani Herrera (1.6), Mailelei Faletogo (1.6) and Cecilia Vu (1.33).

Vu also looks forward to the next season.

"We worked really hard and lost, but it was a good experience," she said. "Next season, we'll really go after it."

Team members are Amber Meslar, Cecilia Vu, Christina Diaz, J'Vonne Hendricks, Stephani Herrera, Luana Tupa, Kaleigha Lang, Malaea Vaomu, Caroline Tupa, Maria Martinez, Elizabeth Lindo, Mailelei Faletogo and Heilala Proctor.

Head coach Schirmer is assisted by Taire Faletogo. Mark Cross is the athletic director.