Squalicum girls' cross country runner Brittany Gappa has handled every course presented to her this year.

She's won a dual meet against Mount Baker and Lynden; she won at Silver Lake Park and won the Mount Baker Invitational. Gappa also placed third at the Sehome Invite and second at the South Whidbey Invitational.

Most recently, Gappa placed first at the city meet against Bellingham and Sehome at Lake Padden and, in doing so, she set a new course record. She easily beat the field with her 15 minute, 16 second run. Sehome's Emily Pittis finished second with a time of 15:42.00.

"Brittany is really tough," said Katrina Henry in an interview at the Mount Baker Invite. "She just hammers, really. She came in today and did her best."

Gappa's next run is at the Hole in the Wall Invite at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Lakewood High School. Anacortes, Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley and Sehome will join Squalicum at the event.

SEHOME RANKED NO. 9 IN VOLLEYBALL POLL

The Sehome volleyball team has won three straight matches since losing to Anacortes 3-0 a week ago.

Both Mariners (5-2, 4-1 NWC) losses came against 2A power Anacortes, and the inaugural Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association rankings have rewarded Sehome for its early season work.

The Mariners rank No. 9 in the Class 2A poll. The only other Northwest Conference team earning a ranking is Anacortes, which is ranked No. 5. Traditional volleyball powers Burlington-Edison (6-1, 5-0) and Lynden (4-3, 3-2), did not crack the top 10 list.

Lynden Christian (2-4, 2-3) is ranked No. 8 in the weekly poll. Ferndale did not earn a top 10 spot in the Class 3A rankings.

ROLEY STARTING OFF STRONG FOR MARINERS

Three weeks into the girls' swimming season, Mariners sophomore swimmer Gwendolyn Roley is proving she's one of the most versatile swimmers in the conference.

Roley has already posted state times the 200 and 500 freestyle. She's also helped her 200 medley relay team swim to a state qualifying time.

This week she helped Sehome win the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and won the individual 100 freestyle in a dual meet against Bellingham.

During the Mariners' 117-68 dual-meet win against Archbishop Murphy Thursday, Sept. 27, Roley helped Sehome win the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Individually, she won the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 36.62 seconds, which is a state qualifying time, as well as the 100 breaststroke, which Roley won in a time of 1:21.66.

"Gwendolyn is an extremely hard worker and team-oriented athlete," Sehome coach Don Helling wrote in an email. "She knows how to have fun but is ready to take care of business when it comes to training for the championship season."

THURSTON, JACOBUS HELPING BELLINGHAM'S DEFENSE

Bellingham girls' soccer coach Mark Wright said his Red Raiders have been struggling on defense, allowing seven goals in their five previous matches leading up to their game against Squalicum Thursday night, Sept. 27.

Although Bellingham lost 1-0 to the Storm, Wright said he was encouraged by the play he received from his defense, especially the work sweeper Jade Thurston and goal keeper Hannah Jacobus did.

"We've been struggling a bit on defense," Wright said after the loss to Squalicum. "We have been putting in hard work in practice, and it showed. I thought Jade Thurston and Hannah (Jacobus) played well."

Bellingham has 1.4 goals per game against average for the season and has posted two shutouts.

GILLMAN CONTINUES STRONG YEAR

Bellingham swimmer Maddie Gillman has been doing it all for the Red Raiders.

She won four events last week against Lynden and was selected WIAA Class 2A Swimmer of the Week. She also swam a 200 individual medley in a time of 2 minutes, 25.62 seconds, which came within two seconds of Bellingham's school record in the event.

She turned in another fine performance this week in a dual meet against Sehome. Gillman won the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly against tough Sehome competition.

"She is fun to watch everyday, because she attacks her workouts and races," Bellingham swim coach Jeff Anderson wrote in an email.

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.