FORKS — Forks fell at home against Raymond on Thursday in a full five-set contest in an early season showdown for the top spot in the Pacific League.
The Seagulls rallied to take the match 25-21, 24-26, 21-25, 26-24, 25-14
Kaidence Rigby led the way for Forks with nine kills, four blocks and four aces.
Kyra Neel totaled six kills, three blocks and an ace while senior teammate Kadie Wood added five kills and an ace.
Freshman Chloe Gaydeski-St. John posted four kills and two aces.
Sophomore setter Erika Williams dished out 19 assists, while adding a kill, a block and an ace.
Eladia Hernandez Stansbury served 100 percent for the match and tallied two kills.
“I am so proud of how hard the girls worked last night,” Forks coach Jenn LeDuke said. “Always hard to lose, but I was so happy with how well they played and worked together.”
LeDuke also had kind words for Spartan students.
“We have the best student section cheering the girls on every match,” LeDuke said. “It’s so awesome to see that school spirit coming back.”
Team captains Neel and Wood provided some perspective on the Spartans’ season to date (3-1, 4-2).
“Our first couple matches were rough, we were beating ourselves,” they said. “We took a great win over South Bend and from there we are finally playing to our full potential.
“The Raymond match was definitely one of the best matches we’ve played throughout our high school career, mentally and physically.”
And the pair said revenge is in the works next month.
“On Oct. 18 the volleyball team, along with a pep bus, will make their way to Raymond to claim our win,” they said.
Girls Soccer Port Angeles 1, Olympic 0
BREMERTON — The Roughriders rode “an insanely good” defensive performance to a victory over the Trojans on Thursday, scoring late in the second half.
“Our back four had some girls in different spots while we are healing up,” coach Daniel Horton said. “Lilly Sanders in the center back position has been our corner stone and she and Maeve Croteau played well together last night.
“Our freshman playing sweeper, Becca Manson, she helped to control the midfield all game long. She was first to the ball, winning 50/50 plays, getting rid of any pressure and getting the ball upfield.”
Port Angeles snapped the stalemate in the 67th minute when Izzy Felton knocked in a loose ball off an Anna Petty corner kick.
“Our set pieces have worked well for us this season,” Horton said. “We’ve scored off free kicks and corners.”
This was Felton’s first goal of the season.
“This was her break-out game, she got involved in the first half with two shots and down the stretch when we needed a goal she put four really good shots on frame,” Horton said.
The Riders outshot Olympic 23-6.
“We were doing all the right things, but all the shots were just a little off,” Horton said. “Just an inch or two over the bar or to the left or right and the ones on frame their goalkeeper was saving. But our players understood that Olympic is a quality team and we would have to fight to score.”
Freshman Kennedy Rognlien earned the shutout in goal.
“Her big save came on that free kick that would have put them up 1-0,” Horton said. “She just tipped it up, it hit the crossbar and our defenders cleared it out.
Port Angeles hosts North Kitsap with first place on the line Tuesday at Wally Sigmar Field at Peninsula College.
North Kitsap 5, Sequim 1
POULSBO — The Wolves struggled to defend early on and went down three goals at halftime on the way to an Olympic League loss to the Vikings.
“They scored on us in the first minute, we just missed Libby Turella scoring off of a corner kick and they took that goal kick down the right side of the field and their left wing made a beautiful cross and we didn’t pick up their forward,” Sequim coach Ken Garling said.
North Kitsap added scores in the 27th and 36th minute.
“We were having trouble tracking runners in the central area, having trouble picking up the runners coming through and they were capitalizing on our mistakes,” Garling said.
Sequim notched its score a few minutes into the second half.
“We adjusted our formation to put an extra body in midfield and settled down a bit,” Garling said. “In the 48th or 49th minute, Raimey Brewer sent in a corner and it bounced off Jenny Gomez and Taryn Johnson was there to put it in net.”
North Kitsap stretched the lead back out late.
“Second half we played a better match, we got forward, we had more chances on goal, but when you play a team like North Kitsap you have to bring your best effort for all 80 minutes,” Garling said.
Sequim (2-2-0) visits Bainbridge on Tuesday.
Boys Tennis Port Angeles 6, Sequim 1
SEQUIM — The Roughriders stayed unbeaten with their first road test against the Wolves on Thursday.
Port Angeles swept the doubles matches and claimed the No. 2 and 3 singles contests.
In the most competitive match, the Riders No. 1 Reef Gelder took the first set off Sequim’s top player Garrett Little before Little came back to win in three sets.
The Riders, 5-0, are off until Tuesday when they travel to Bremerton.
Port Angeles 6, Sequim 1
Match Report
Singles
No. 1 — Garrett Little (Seq) def. Reef Gelder, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 2 — Nathan Basden (PA) def. Espn Judd, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 — Reid Schmidt (PA) def. William Hughes, 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 — Edun Bailey-Zane Glassock (PA) def. Isaac McKeen-Aaron Judd, 6-0, 6-1.
No. 2 — Zak Alton-Elijah Flodstrom (PA) def. Jack Crecilius-Zach Post, 6-0, 6-1.
No. 3 — Kellen Garcelon-Jacob Miller (PA) def. Lincoln Bear-Hunter Tennell, 6-2, 6-1.
No. 4 — Luke Flodstrom-Tate Alton (PA) def. Ryan Stites-Andrew Brown, 6-0, 6-0.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
