Wolves lock down playoff seed

Sequim sweeps Kingston, sends seniors off with win

There are plenty of games left for Sequim to play – just not here, not for a while.

Sequim seniors said goodbye to their fans and hello to the West Central District playoffs with a pair of wins against lowly Klahowya and Kingston last week.

The Wolves (7-3 in Olympic League, 8-4 overall) swept Klahowya’s Eagles 3-0 on Oct. 21 and did the same to the visiting Buccaneers, securing the league’s No. 2 seed among 2A teams.

Undefeated and No. 9-ranked North Mason (11-0, 12-0) is the league No. 1 seed.

And while the Bulldogs and Fife’s Trojans, the top team from the Nisqually League, look like district tourney favorites, three teams – Sequim, Eatonville and Washington – look like they’ll be battling for the district’s third and final playoff spot.

The Wolves got little more than a scrimmage against Klahowya last week, giving up just seven points in the first set and 25 points overall.

Megan Zumbuhl led the Wolves with six kills while Ashley Bourns was 16-of-16 on serves and Sarah Hankins had seven assists in the win, keeping Klahowya winless this season.

Two nights later, Kingston put up more of a fight, but Sequim, using a senior-only six for the majority of the team’s final home game of the season, controlled much of the game.

We … kept the level of play up a bit," Sequim coach Jennie Webber said. "(Kingston) at least had a good outside hitter. Our passing was good."

Zumbuhl once again led the Wolves with 14 kills while Teyloure Ring had nine kills, 12 digs and was 11-of-11 serving.

Ring said she was a little shocked to play her final game at home, but that her classmates made it a fun evening.

"The whole camaraderie (thing) was there tonight – it was very obvious in our play," Ring said. "We’re starting to bond. I’m definitely excited to get to districts."

Sequim was scheduled to play Port Townsend Tuesday night – results were unavailable at press time. The Wolves close out the regular season at North Mason on Nov. 30 in Belfair.

Webber said the Bulldogs are running a quicker offense than when Sequim saw them last, back in September.

"We’ll have to be ready for that," Webber said. "We’ve played some good 4A schools who have good blocking. We hope to get a game or two (off North Mason)."

Ring said she’s not looking for a game or two but a Sequim win.

"They beat us on our own court," Ring said, recalling the three-set defeat to the Bulldogs on Sept. 11, adding, "Revenge is sweet."

The district tournament is set for two Saturdays (Nov. 8 and Nov. 15) at the Kitsap Pavilion in Bremerton. Normally the tourney is a two-day tourney on the same weekend but a scheduling snafu with the state tournament has 2A teams playing in Kennewick Nov. 21-22; the tournament venue, the Toyota Center, booked ventriloquist Jeff Dunham for the mid-November weekend, traditionally the weekend Washington hosts its prep volleyball finals.

At districts, the Wolves play the Nisqually League No. 3 team – likely Eatonville (1-4 in league, 4-7 overall) – at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 in a loser-out contest. A win pits Sequim against the Nisqually No. 1 seed – likely the Fife Trojans (5-0, 7-5) – in the district semifinals at 3:15 p.m. the same day for an automatic state berth. The district tourney final and consolation final – for the third seed to state – are both set for

6 p.m. Nov. 15.