YELM — Finish.
South Kitsap has struggled to do that throughout the season, but the Wolves accomplished that with their first three-set win of the season, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16, in a Class 4A Narrows League match Tuesday night at Yelm.
“That’s something we struggled with,” South coach CJ Scott said. “We played some good teams where we were right there, but we could not finish. We just kind of folded at the end a bit.”
He said he has seen his team play well in “spurts” at times this season, including tournaments at Anacortes and Glacier Peak. But during Thursday’s “DiG PiNK” match, which aims to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer, the Wolves overcame multiple challenges to defeat Stadium 15-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 16-14. South trailed 14-13 during the final set.
“I think DiG PiNK is going to be a big key coming back to win that,” Scott said. “I think their confidence level for finishing matches is going to be there now.”
Senior middle blocker Shannon Laupola shared similar sentiments.
“I think after DiG PiNK we realized that we can compete with these other schools,” said Laupola, who attributed the Wolves’ early struggles against Stadium to being nervous about the final home match of the season. “I think we proved it.”
Laupola had the final kill to close out the match against Yelm (0-9). South (3-6) trailed early during the third set before a 10-0 run gave it a 13-6 advantage. It was a lead the Wolves never would relinquish.
“I’m so proud of us,” said Laupola, who had a team-high seven kills. “We stayed high and had a whole bunch of energy.”
Laupola, who has been an outside hitter throughout the season, moved to middle blocker. That was not the only adjustment for South. Scott shifted the scheme from a 6-2 to a 5-1 scheme, which features one setter. Scott said he also reduced the team’s rotation from 11 to “eight or nine.”
“The chemistry will be better because there’s less people coming in and out,” he said. “The girls all get along great, but the on-court stuff — with less subs — I think will help us.”
Sophomore Tia Lawrence shifted to outside hitter with senior Zoe Conger replacing her at setter.
“Tia Lawrence is playing all the way around,” he said. “She’s probably the smallest outside hitter in the league, but we have her defensively all the way around which is something we needed.”
Defense was not the Wolves’ only strong point against the Torandos as they finished with 20 service aces. Senior outside hitter Miranda Cornelius had a team-high eight aces.
“Serving has been an inconsistency for us at times,” Scott said. “That’s going to be huge against any team.”
South now has three regular-season matches remaining. The Wolves, who have clinched a berth into the league playoffs, next compete at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Timberline. South needs one victory in leagues to advance to the 4A West Central District Tournament.
“That was our goal all year to get to districts,” Scott said. “It’s right there for us.”
Tuesday
South Kitsap d. Yelm 25-20, 25-21, 25-16
South Kitsap-Shannon Laupola 7 kills, Courtney Schmidt 6 kills, Baylie Myers 17 assists, Miranda Cornelius 8 aces.
Thursday
South Kitsap d. Stadium 15-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 16-14
South Kitsap-Laupola 15 kills, Natalie Olson 14 kills, Emma York 20 assists, Myers 15 assists, Schmidt 6 blocks, Tia Lawrence 4 aces.
