Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Ferndale aiming high at 3A district tournament

Whenever Ferndale volleyball coach Patti Hoelzle thought her team might not be giving enough effort during practice this season she would stop the drill and ask the Golden Eagles a simple question: Did they feel like they were working hard enough to be a state playoff caliber team?

"After that things would usually pick up," Hoelzle said in a phone interview. "We have a good team. We're very athletic and they all want to get to state. We have big dreams this season."

Chief among those dreams is reaching the Class 3A state tournament. Ferndale can take its first steps toward that goal on Monday, Nov. 2, when it hosts Lynnwood in the opening round of the Class 3A Northwest District Tournament at 5 p.m. The Golden Eagles earned home court advantage through at least the district semifinals by knocking off Northwest Conference rival Mount Vernon during the regular season.

"That was the first time we've beaten Mount Vernon in, I think, five years," Hoelzle said. "Getting to play at home was really a big deal for us."

Getting an opponent they are familiar with in the opening round doesn't hurt either. Ferndale beat Lynnwood at a tournament earlier this season in a back-and-forth contest. Hoelzle said Lynnwood is a tall team that will challenge the Golden Eagles.

"They're tall and match up with us pretty well athletically," Hoelzle said. "It was a battle when we saw them at the Squalicum tournament and it should be another close match. I'm sure they've improved since then and I like to think we have."

Throughout the season Ferndale has relied on its blocking ability and that's not about to change now. Despite not always being the tallest team on the court the Golden Eagles are quick at the net and time their jump well. Offensively, the team will look to Erika Locker and Amber Evans to lead their attack. Setter Danielle Marks has also been playing well.

"We have a deep team that's flexible in terms of who plays," Hoelzle said. "When we play 6-on-6 in practice it's very competitive. When you see that level of play every day at practice it helps you get better."

The winner of Ferndale's first round match meets either Sedro-Woolley or Everett in the next round of the double-elimination in the evening game. The tournament continues through Saturday. The top two teams advance to state. Hoelzle said Meadowdale, which holds the No. 1 seed to the tournament from the Wesco 3A conference, is likely the favorite.

"They are always so tough to beat," Hoelzle said. "Really with just two teams getting to state it's always hard to get out of our district no matter what. It seems so simple on paper, the district tournament comes down to three teams and the two best go on to state, but it's never that easy."

Tournament Breakdown

Class 3A Northwest District Volleyball Tournment

When: Nov. 2 through Nov. 7

Where: Ferndale High School and Cascade High School

Format: Double-elimination tournament

What's at stake: The top two teams advance to the Class 3A state tournament

Today's Schedule

First round

At Cascade High School

Glacier Peak vs. Meadowdale, 5 p.m.

Shorecrest vs. Mount Vernon, 5 p.m.

Championship Semifinal

Glacier Peak/Meadowdale winner vs. Shorecrest/Mount Vernon winner, 7 p.m.

Consolation first round

Glacier Peak/Meadowdale loser vs. Shorecrest/Mount Vernon loser, 7 p.m.

At Ferndale High School

Sedro-Woolley vs. Everett, 5 p.m.

Lynnwood vs. Ferndale, 5 p.m.

Championship semifinal

Sedro-Woolley/Everett winner vs. Lynnwood/Ferndale winner, 7 p.m.

Consolation first round

Sedro-Woolley/Everett loser vs. Lynnwood/Ferndale loser, 7 p.m.