Wolves win rematch with Seahawks

The South Kitsap Wolves called on their friends to help them out last week as they made their way through the Olympic College Summer League Tournament at the Bremer Student Center gym.

After losing the 2002 tournament to Peninsula by forfeit because of a lack of players, the SK girls asked 2002 All-Bridge Division honorable mention Liz Tomscyk to fill a spot in their lineup.

That proved to be all they needed as the Wolves downed the Seahawks in the championship series rematch 15-12, 15-12.

“We don’t have our whole team here,” SK senior Rikki Bentley said, adding that the all-volunteer lineup only featured three returners and a couple of JV players. “But this summer has been fun for the new people to teach them how to play with rally scoring and give them the self-confidence they need when the season starts.”

It didn’t appear early on that the Wolves were ready to play after they lost to the Central Kitsap JV squad in the opening round 15-8, 8-15, 11-15.

But they bounced back against the Peninsula JV squad 15-8, Bremerton 15-6 and Central Kitsap’s varsity 15-9 in the consolation round of the double-elimination tourney.

“Five people and no coach ... and we won,” SK junior Jenna Timm said after the finals match.

In fact, there wasn’t a coach in sight for any team since this year’s tournament occurred in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s black-out window (Rule 17.6.0) which prohibits coaches from working with kids three weeks before the start of the season (which is Aug. 25.)

That didn’t hurt the Wolves since they’ve played all summer sans coach, but it was discomforting to some teams who weren’t used to being out there on their own.

“It’s weird not to see him over there,” CK senior Erin Ziesemer said of coach Gordy Bushaw’s absence. The Cougars finished in fourth place behind the Olympic College team.

“It’s like rec volleyball,” said CK junior Lindsey Fryer, a 2002 All-Bridge first team member. “And it’s not that serious out there because everybody’s not here.”

The young team from North Kitsap was obviously uncomfortable without coach Clay Blackwood around to guide them.

“We weren’t all together,” NK junior Jennifer Buckner said.

“A lot of seniors that are coming back couldn’t make it tonight,” Tomscyk said. “But I tought we played strong even though we lost (to OC and CK’s varsity). We’ve progressed this summer and really improved. We learned that we’ve got a strong defense that’s scrappy and picks up a lot of balls.”

And getting to know your teammates and working on skills is the reason OC coach Tobie Moore puts the summer program on.

“This is our second year during the summer and it has made us a much better team,” Bremerton senior Jamie Coombe said. “We’ve learned we’ve got a lot more talent coming up that will give us a good blend of sophomores, juniors and seniors.”

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