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. She also 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.
1A Girls Soccer
Nooksack Valley defeated Blaine 3-0 in the consolation championship game Nov. 5. Nooksack Valley’s Gretchen Elmendorf scored twice and Khloe Mora scored once. The Pioneers will play in a District 1/2 crossover game to secure a state berth against University Prep on Nov. 9 at Sammamish High School.
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.
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 and state berth.
Nooksack Valley and Blaine had three close sets Nov. 5. Although the sets were battles, the Pioneers swept the Borderites. Nooksack Valley will play Meridian for the consolation championship and a spot in the District 1/2 crossover game at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Meridian High.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
