Too many mistakes doom Spartans in loss to arch-rival.
It’s never a good thing to be swept by your arch-rival on your home turf.
But even though the Bainbridge volleyball team lost to the defending 3A state champs Bishop Blanchet in three games by the scores of 25-18, 25-21 and 25-19, both head coach Julie Miller and the players felt their effort was better than in games past.
“They’re on the verge of being a really good team,” Miller said.
Senior co-captain Kelcey Dunaway felt the same way.
“In that match we had our ups and downs but that happens in any volleyball game,” she said. “I’m not too worried about that. I’m just happy that we played better and made a better showing than we did the last time.”
Those ups and downs were in effect in the second game.
After Blanchet went up 13-7 on five Bainbridge errors, the Spartans battled back to take the lead at 21-20 on a block by Emily Donohue, a kill by Dominique Atherley and a error by the Braves.
But three errors by Bainbridge gave the lead back to Blanchet for good.
“We had a chance to win that (game) and they said ‘Oh my God, we’re going to win,’ and they (tightened up),” Miller said. “But it’s probably the best two and a half games we’ve played in a long time.
“I’m happy with the steps we’re taking forward.”
Dunaway and Hillary Grant agree.
“I’m not too worried,” Dunaway said. “I think we’ve improved a lot.”
“It’s going to take people to fully commit in order to not get down on yourself when you mess up, but I think people are figuring that out,” Grant said.
Dunaway finished with 14 kills, six aces and eight digs.
Chelsea Bell had 23 assists while Becky Gottlieb had five kills and seven digs.
Grant had 10 digs.
Bainbridge plays at Lakeside next Tuesday, then end the season at home against Eastside Catholic next Thursday.
Girl golfers take Metro title
With two victories over tough teams this week at Wing Point, the Bainbridge girls golf team earned their second straight regular season Metro League title.
Against Bishop Blanchet on Wednesday, the Spartans defeated the Braves 117-90.
Anna Bourland was the medalist as she shot a 41 for 31 Stableford points with four pars.
Melanie Trygg – who was named the WIAA/Seattle Times Athlete of the Week after her performance last week – scored her average with 29 points. The senior co-captain had three pars.
Ryan Nottingham also had 29 points on the back of a birdie and a par while Peyton Lunzer had 28 points with one par and Annalise Herr scored 26 points with two pars.
Against Eastside Catholic on Tuesday, the Spartans defeated the Crusaders 121-106.
Bourland and Kimmie Koelher both tied for the medalist position as they shot a three-over 39 for 33 points.
Bourland had four pars and a birdie.
Nottingham scored 30 points with three pars and a birdie as did Herr, who also had three pars.
Trygg followed with 28 points on four pars while Lunzer scored 24 points with one par.
With all five golfers averaging 23 points or better, all five will be among the top 15 seeds at this year’s Metro League tournament.
The girls play at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill in the opening round of the tournament.
Those that qualify play in the final round of the tourney on Thursday.
Boys golfers take second
After a tough match against O’Dea, the Bainbridge boys golf team bounced back to win two matches this week at Wing Point to finish their season with a strong push toward the Metro tournament.
Against Bishop Blanchet on Wednesday, the Spartans defeated the Braves 101-100.
Blanchet’s Jed Dalton was the medalist with a one-under 34, but Kyle Hurt and Sean Leonard each shot a one-over 36 to lead Bainbridge.
Carl Jonson followed with a 37 while Kyle Schneider had a 38 to wrap up the victory.
Against Eastside Catholic on Tuesday, the Spartans beat the Crusaders 103-94.
Hurt was the medalist with a one-under 34.
Jonson and Jack Seidl each shot a even par 35, while Leonard and Schneider shot a 38 each while Will de van der Schueren posted a 39.
Bainbridge now moves onto the Metro League tournament starting next Tuesday.
They play at West Seattle at 10 a.m. for the opening round, then move to Jefferson Golf Course on Thursday for the championship round.
The top golfers then move on to Riverbend Golf Course in Kent for the Sea-King District 2 golf tournament next week.
Kickers take two games
The Bainbridge girls soccer team got on a roll this week with two non-league wins over Metro Sound Division foes.
Against Chief Sealth on Tuesday, Haylee Baker led the way with two goals – one at the six and a half minute mark, the next goal just 1:30 later.
Lucy Donahue opened the scoring with a goal in the second minute off an assist from Ashley Waplinger.
Kelsey Thompson scored in the tenth minute.
Alex Mynatt scored in the 21st minute, then again just eight minutes later.
Donahue scored again in the 47th minute off an assist from Maddie Ginder while Dina Singer put the last score of the game in at the 58th minute.
Against Ingraham on Wednesday, the Rams scored first in the fifth minute.
But Thompson came back to score in the 52nd minute off an assist from Donahue.
Ashley Waplinger then did the rest with goals in the 61st and 68th minute.
The Spartans played at Bishop Blanchet yesterday, then return home to face Eastside Catholic next Tuesday.
Harriers do well in meet
Bainbridge runners Emily Farrar and Hayley Trageser took first and second, respectively, at the last Metro League cross country meet of the year Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Seattle.
Farrar finished with a time of 19:32 while Trageser finished with a time of 19:52.
Annie Taylor was sixth with a time of 20:43.
For the boys, Ian Shiach was the top finisher for the Spartans with a time of 17:04.
Max Welch was fifth with a time of 17:09 while Josh Larkin was 15th with a time of 17:58.
Both teams took second to Bishop Blanchet with 44 and 57 points respectively.
Up next for both teams is the Metro League championship meet at Lincoln Park next Wednesday.
The varsity girls run at 2:30 p.m. with the boys scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m.
