Lake Stevens High School Athletics
Grante Falls High School Athletics
Purple and Gold Pigskin

McKayla Huntley #10, junior outside hitter, making the kill from outside.

The Vikings had a triumphant week in volleyball, defeating both Stanwood and Snohomish. 
Thursday’s game against Stanwood was a quick night of volleyball with three straight wins (25-13, 25-10, 25-16).  But it was Tuesday’s game against Snohomish that deserves the spotlight.

Snohomish, who came into the match undefeated, left the Lake Stevens gym with its first division loss.  The last time these teams met, Snohomish beat Lake Stevens 3-0. 

“We had a plan before we went in and we totally executed that plan,” Lake Stevens’ head coach Amy Wiklund said.
This new plan earned the Vikings a different outcome, winning 3-2 (20-25, 25-15, 25-27, 25-20, 15-11).

The first set began with Snohomish gaining an early five point lead.  With the help of McKayla Huntley (outside hitter) and Christiana James (middle blocker) the Vikings made a run and eventually tied the score at 13 all. 
After a Snohomish time out, the Vikings couldn’t gain the momentum needed and lost the set 20-25.
The Vikings came out in set two with a completely different agenda and gained a quick lead of 9-1.  Snohomish’s defense couldn’t match the Lake Stevens offense and the Panthers spent the entire set trying to make up for their mistakes. 
The Viking offense took advantage of numerous overfeeds from the Snohomish defense and scored on the kill.  The Vikings won the second set 25-15.

As the third set began, it was clear that both teams were out for a win.  Libero, Nicole Carroll stayed in control defensively and didn’t allow the Panthers to run away with kills. 

With never more than a two point lead for either team, the Panthers edged out the Vikings with a 27-25 win.
Lake Stevens needed a win in the fourth set.  The Vikings came out hungry and took control with a lead of 6-1.  As the set ensued, Middle Blocker Christiana James, was a force at the net and along with lethal serving from junior, Sara Perry, and senior, Kylie Hall, they helped the Vikings get to a 19-13 lead. 

The Vikings finished off the Panthers in a 25-20 win with kill support from seniors, Cecelia Licciardi and Abigail Molstre.
As the fifth and final set began, it looked like Snohomish might take the win from Lake Stevens, but the Vikings powered back and tied the score at eight all. 

Senior Setter, Blake Lamberty, had the luxury of setting to several qualified hitters on the court and one of her choices was to utilize sophomore Outside Hitter, Kendall Swanson.  Together they helped defeat Snohomish 15-11.

The Vikings definitely came together as a team to achieve the win.  Each player stepped up and the stats confirm their efforts for the night:  Nicole Carroll 22 digs, 4 aces; McKayla Huntley 13 kills, 5 blocks; Kendall Swanson 12 kills, 4 aces; Christiana James 6 kills; Cecelia Licciardi 9 kills, 2 blocks; Abby Molstre 8 kills, 4 blocks; and for setters Blake Lamberty and Molli Drivdahl a combined 54 assists. 

For head coach, Amy Wiklund, this was “by far the best game I’ve got to watch in a while, I am so proud of them!”
The Vikings are currently 6-2 in league play and 8-4 overall.  Their final home game is Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m. against Monroe.