Queens of the bridge

Since joining the Narrows League, CK’s volleyball season has come down to a tough match against Gig Harbor with the Cougars winning in five sets.

On Tuesday it was no different as the Cougs won the first set 25-20, lost the second set 25-12, lost the third 25-21, pulled out a fourth set 25-20 win and went on a 5-0 run to win the deciding set 15-12.

“It was the most exciting game we’ve had though it was hard to say it was the best we’ve played,” said long-time CK coach Gordy Bushaw. “I’d like to think if we really play our best it wouldn’t come down to a squeaker like that.”

The Cougars were admittedly sloppy at times throughout the night with the low point being 12 errors in the third set.

“ We made too many mistakes, that gave them a lot of their points,” CK junior Lindsey Fryer said. “We got by those mistakes and that’s what is important.”

The Tides’ defense forced many of the CK mistakes.

“There’s nothing to hang our heads about when we leave this gym,” GH coach Sandy Pringle said. “We gave a great match, we just didn’t get out the win this time. After a match like this it’s hard to say there was a loser. It was a fun game to watch, a fun game to coach and it’s a heartbreaker for the kids who have to walk away with a loss.”

Fryer unofficially had 20 kills, 2 aces and 2 blocks against the Tides. Senior Aimee Carroll finished with 12 kills, an ace, a block and the play of the night when she didn’t touch the ball as it fell to the floor for the final point of the game.

“I was going to get it and coach was yelling ‘it was out,’ so I let it go,” Carroll said.

“Aimee was huge for us, especially early on,” Bushaw said.

The win meant CK (7-0, 18-2) won the Bridge Division title outright for the first time and a chance to go for the Narrows League title at 5 p.m. today at Gig Harbor against Bay Division champs Olympia (7-0, 11-3.) This is the first year the Narrows League has had its division champs face-to-face in a best-of-5 series.

“Being No. 1 (out of the division) has huge implications for playoffs because this year it’s not pool play, it’s all brackets and that means seeding is more important than it’s ever been,” Bushaw said.

The Cougars know they can’t make the same mistakes against Olympia who sealed the Bay title with a 3-2 win Tuesday against previously undefeated Capital.

“We’re ready to play whoever is going to come at us and we can take anyone,” Carroll said. “We didn’t play our ‘A’ game at all, once we clean up those mistakes we’ll be hard to beat.”

Win or lose, Bushaw (who led CK to seven Olympic League titles) is making his 14th trip to the West Central District Tournament next Friday at Bethel High School.

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