As district tournaments are wrapping up, Whatcom and Skagit soccer and volleyball teams are looking to secure state berths. Tournaments started last week around Whatcom County and will finish Saturday, Nov. 9.
2A Girls Soccer
Sehome and Lynden battled for the district title and the Mariners came out victorious Tuesday, Nov. 5, handing Lynden its first loss of the season. Sehome won 8-7 in penalties.
Mariners’ Keira Reeves scored the first goal of the night off a header on a free kick in the first 90 seconds. Kaitlyn Schroeder made the game-winning penalty.
Lions’ Meg Clarke responded in the 12th minute with a shot in front of the net to tie the game. Similar to their regular season matchup, the Lions and Mariners were tied after regulation.
Squalicum advanced to the consolation semifinals after cruising past Burlington-Edison 6-2 on Nov. 5. Siri Hoglin led the Storm with two goals. Kiarra Voigt, Arya Sabado and Ava Simons scored while Squalicum’s final goal came from an own goal.
The Storm will play Bellingham for a spot in the consolation championship and a berth to the state championships at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at Civic Stadium.
Bellingham defeated Archbishop Murphy 3-0. Bayhawks’ Ivy Newell scored in the 26th and 43rd minutes. Gracie Gouran scored the final goal in the final minutes of the game.
Bellingham defeated Squalicum in the third round of consolations 2-0 on Nov. 7. The Bayhawks struck early when Ruby Jane Brown scored a header on a corner kick in the ninth minute. Sloan Mahn scored the second goal on a cross in the 64th minute.
After a record undefeated season, Lynden’s season fell short of qualifying for the state playoffs. After a scoreless regulation and extra time, Bellingham and Lynden went into a penalty shootout Nov. 9. The Bayhawks, who lost earlier in districts by penalties, returned with a 6-5 victory and a berth to the state bracket.
1A Girls Soccer
Nooksack Valley defeated Blaine 3-0 in the consolation championship game. University Prep knocked Nooksack Valley out of state contention with a 5-0 victory Nov. 9 in the D1/D2 crossover game.
Bear Creek defeated Lynden Christian in the D1/D2 crossover game 2-1 Nov. 9. The Grizzlies scored two goals in the first 10 minutes but Lyncs’ Kayla Yun responded with a goal from 35 yards out.
3A Volleyball
Ferndale swept Meadowdale in the opening round of the 3A District 1 Championships Nov. 7. The Golden Eagles, the five-seed, will travel to Lynnwood High School Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. to face the Royals in the quarterfinals.
Monroe knocked out nine-seed Mount Vernon in the opening round of the tournament in three sets Nov. 7. The Bulldogs pushed the Bearcats to the final point but the Bearcats held strong and won the third set 25-20.
2A Volleyball
The last time Burlington-Edison won the district title, seniors Mia Whitlock and Lexie Mason were freshmen playing a small role on the team in 2021. The dynamic duo stepped onto the court for one final district game Wednesday, Nov. 6, and won the title against Archbishop Murphy 3-0 at Meridian High School.
“It feels awesome,” Whitlock said. “We have been waiting for this since our freshman year.”
The Wildcats had an early 7-2 lead in the first set. However, Whitlock calmed down and led the Tigers on a 15-2 run to take a 17-9 lead. The Tigers ended up winning the set 25-16 on a Wildcats’ error. Whitlock had two aces and eight of her 19 kills in the first set.
In the second set, Mason dominated with nine of her 15 kills and four of her six blocks.
“I just felt like I wanted to take a little off of Mia and show her some love,” Mason said. “I thought she was carrying and doing amazing.”
The electric duo took the momentum in the second set, being responsible for 17 points in the 25-13 second set victory.
Whitlock finished the third set with seven kills while Mason had five kills and two blocks. The Tigers had a convincing 18-10 lead that slimmed down to 19-18. The Wildcats and Tigers traded points until Mason secured the victory with her final kill, winning 25-21.
“This has been our goal forever and we are ready for a ring,” Mason said.
The Tigers will head to the 2A state tournament Nov. 15–16 at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
Lynden handled Lakewood in the second round of consolation, sweeping the team 3-0 and moving forward in the bracket. The Lions will face Sehome, who swept Anacortes in three sets the previous game. The two teams will play at 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Meridian High.
Sehome defeated Lynden in four sets but failed to reach the state playoffs after losing to Archbishop Murphy in four sets in the consolation championship game Nov. 9.
1A Volleyball
Lynden Christian upset Meridian with a sweep in the district championship match Nov. 5, including a 25-23 third set. The Lyncs avenged an early 3-0 loss to Meridian a few weeks ago and snagged another district title.
Lynden Christian swept Granite Falls Nov. 9 in the final district crossover game of the night and captured a state berth.
Nooksack Valley and Blaine had three close sets Nov. 5. Although the sets were battles, the Pioneers swept the Borderites.
Meridian held strong against Nooksack Valley Nov. 7, defeating them in four sets, including a 25-23 final set.
Meridian finished their district run with the D1/D2 crossover game against Eastside Prep Nov. 9 . The Trojans will be state bound after sweeping Eastside Prep in three sets.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
