Lobos volleyball ends a rollercoaster of a week

The Lopez volleyball team had a great time at the Mt. Vernon high school tournament last weekend, but hit a lull in concentration and communication in their match this past week against North Sound Christian, falling to North Sound in four games of play, 3-1 on Monday, Oct. 26.

"We had our moments against North Sound," Coach Mellonie Altona said. "The problems begin when we stop talking to one another. Plays fall apart. We try to address this off the court but it is a process we're working on."

The Lopez players beat themselves psychologically partially, and partially the other team were very strong hitters.

On Wednesday however, the Lady Lobos redeemed themselves, winning in four games 3-1 against Skykomish at the last Lopez home game of the season. Lobo seniors Lily Ewert, Tamira Vojnar, and Helen O'Brien saw lots of playing time on the court as outbound seniors.

"Our seniors stood out," Altona said. "Ewert had some wonderful hits and Vojnar has been making mind-boggling saves, and Helen O'Brien's serves are just rockets across the net. Marina Steinbrueck is still very strong at the net as well as Sarah Stanley, though she's been under the weather with strep throat. They've all been plagued with colds and flu."

Lopez volleyball is in second place in the league for district play and competition starts Wednesday, Nov. 4. They will play Clallum Bay or Crescent at North Sound Christian, at Montlake Terrace. Then the Lobos travel to Coupeville on Whidbey Island on Nov. 7.

"They (Skykomish) got us on a run. They were up 20-10 in the last game, and we ended up winning 25-22; but other than that they are not a team that's firing on all cylinders all the time," Altona commented.

Lobos Hanifah McGovern and Erin Wilbur have both been nominated for league first team, a great honor for the players and the program that they represent.

The Lopez volleyball team plays Lummi in their last league game on Monday, Nov. 2.

"This will be a tough but good game. It will prepare our team for Wednesday, when league playoffs start," Altona commented.

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