Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Clark, Ferndale advance at 3A districts

FERNDALE - Ferndale's McKenzie Clark, one of the state's shortest middle blockers but a senior "with real hops," as her teammates say, always makes sure to add that extra quarter inch when asked how tall she is.

"I'm 5-foot-6 3/4 inches," said Clark, whose feisty approach helped keep the Golden Eagles' state tournament hopes alive after a disheartening loss in the opening round of the Class 3A Northwest District Tournament on Monday, Nov. 2.

"I try to be as tall as I can be," said Clark, who played outside hitter the previous two seasons but moved to middle blocker at coach Patti Hoelzle's request because that made for the best fit with this team. "I love the feel of getting a block. It's an awesome feeling."

Clark, whose hops gave her fourth place in the Class 3A high jump in state track last spring, enjoyed that "awesome block feeling" seven times in the opening round against Lynnwood, the fourth seed from the Wesco. But the Golden Eagles, the top seed from the Northwest Conference, couldn't hold a two-game lead and fell to their taller opponent, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-12.

"After that, we were just pumped and angry and ready to take it out on Sedro-Woolley," said Clark, who led Ferndale with five kills as the Golden Eagles eliminated the third-seeded Cubs 25-15, 25-17, 25-15 in only 45 minutes after Ferndale endured a two-hour marathon against Lynnwood.

The Golden Eagles now must win three consecutive games - one Thursday night, Nov. 5, at home as a top seed, and two Saturday at Cascade High School - to earn a state berth. On Thursday, Ferndale will face second-seeded Mount Vernon, which opened by beating Shorecrest 18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 15-6. Mount Vernon then lost to top-seeded Meadowdale 25-14, 25-12, 25-13 on the Cascade court.

"I think we can do it," said Hoelzle of the Eagles' state shot. "I think that loss to Lynnwood will really fire up our girls."

With their season on the line, the Golden Eagles responded with fire against Sedro-Woolley, aided by Hoelzle's roster management. Three reserves who didn't play against Lynnwood - sophomore Laurel Erdman, junior Shannon Stewart and senior Megan Clapper - all contributed meaningful plays, along with reserve junior hitter MacKenzie Nicolaas, who had three kills in the clinching game.

Leslie Sigurdson, a right-side hitter whom Hoelzle said consistently performs well on digs, had a remarkable 16 against the Cubs and outside hitter Erika Locker had 8. Sigurdson also had four kills.

Erdman enjoyed the honor of finishing off the second game against the Cubs with a nifty cross-court kill. In the third game, sophomore middle blocker Amber Evans served aces for three of Ferndale's last five points.

Clark, whose state medal-winning high jump was 5 feet, 4 inches last spring, often seemed to leap close to that height while making 10 kills against Lynnwood's taller front line.

Lynnwood, however, simply wore down Ferndale, which scored 31 points on offensive moves in the first two games but logged only 27 such plays in the final three games while making more errors.

Locker led Ferndale with 11 kills against Lynnwood, followed by Clark with 10, Evans with 7 and Madison Hart with 6. Hart's five blocks supported Clark's seven, and three girls were outstanding in digs - Sigurdson with 23, junior setter Danielle Marks with 21 and Locker with 16. Libero Haley Grunhurd, one of three starting seniors along with Clark and Sigurdson, also had several big plays.

In other words, it wasn't lack of hustle that beat Ferndale against Lynnwood.

Clark's all-out attitude has impressed Hoelzle all season.

"McKenzie has good timing and brings a lot of energy," the third-year head coach said. "This year, I really wanted her at middle blocker. She's a really smart player."

Locker said the loss to Lynnwood instilled a sense of urgency in the Golden Eagles.

"It was really tough losing that first match, but our girls realized we had to rally," she said, noting how Ferndale did not want to be eliminated in its own gym. Now Ferndale must try to avoid that fate against Mount Vernon, which suffered a 3-0 loss to the Golden Eagles a week ago.