By John McCallum
Editor 

Cheney volleyball earns split in league action

 

Last updated 10/5/2017 at 11:11am

John McCallum

Peyton Stark sets the ball in the first game against visiting Clarkston on Sept. 29.

Cheney High volleyball head coach Heather Zorrozua said traveling to Pullman last Tuesday for the Lady Blackhawks first match with the Greyhounds was a little bit like heading into the unknown.

Cheney defeated the Greyhounds four times last season, including once in the playoffs, en route to a second straight Great Northern League title and a District 7 crown. Zorrozua tabbed Pullman as the pre-season favorite to win the league, returning eight seniors but with a new head coach, while the Blackhawks are going through something of a youth movement.

Despite losing in three sets, it was evident Cheney's unfamiliarity with the 2017 Greyhounds, and their uncertainty about whether or not they could play with them, was falling away with each passing game. Pullman downed the Lady Blackhawks 25-12, 25-19 and 25-22 to remain unbeaten while handing Cheney its first loss of the season.

"By the third set, we realized they're a good team, we're a good team and we can give them a run for their money," Zorrozua said.

Peyton Stark led the Lady Blackhawks with 16 assists. Amber Stark and Shelby Draper had seven kills each, with Stark also recording 11 digs and Draper three aces.

Zorrozua wondered how her team would respond in the next game after suffering its first loss, and she was happy with the bounce back the Lady Blackhawks turned in at home against Clarkston on Thursday. Cheney showed mental toughness in the first two sets, finding ways to stymie Bantam runs that closed the lead at times to two or three points and pulling away for back to back 25-18 wins.

Cheney was less pushed in the third set, winning 25-13 to take the match 3-0 and run its league mark to 4-1, 6-1 overall.

Peyton Stark had 26 assists, but also recorded six aces. Abby Witt had nine kills, Taishae Wallace had eight digs and Draper one block.

"Volleyball truly is a game of momentum shifts," Zorrozua said. "And this is one team that does not give up."

Friday and Saturday's appearance at the annual Linda Sheridan Classic might have been a couple of volleyball matches too far for the Lady Blackhawks, who lost all three matches in pool play. Cheney rebounded late Saturday afternoon, downing Kennewick 25-21 in the match for 53rd and 54th places.

Zorrozua felt all of the matches - Prosser, Ferris and Bonners Ferry - were against beatable teams, and Cheney played Ferris tight in the opener for eventually losing. Overall though, the Lady Blackhawks experienced some "good learning opportunities" in tournament play.

"I think they grew a lot this weekend," Zorrozua said.

Like other Cheney teams, the Lady Blackhawks get a bit of a respite this week to regroup and find practice time to work on some kinks. Cheney's only match was Tuesday at third-place West Valley (2-3, 3-4).

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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