Cheney High volleyball head coach Heather Zorrozua understands that this year’s Lady Blackhawks are a more visual group than previous squads. It’s an element that has been helped recently by the schedule, which provided some extra practices last week with which to work on the players skills via the film room.
“We’ve been focusing more on film, learning what we can be doing differently,” Zorrozua said.
So far, the Lady Blackhawks have been doing a fair amount of winning, helping them stay in contention for a No. 2 seed to this Saturday’s District 7 playoffs at league-champion Pullman High School. Cheney downed fourth-seeded West Valley last Tuesday, Oct. 17, at home on Senior Night, sweeping the Eagles in three sets, 25-12, 25-19 and 25-8.
The highlight of the victory for Zorrozua was the play of her sophomore middle blockers — both of whom notched double-digit kills. Shelby Draper led with 15 kills, with Abby Witt not far back with 11.
Senior setter Peyton Stark led with 29 assists, with Morgan Peace adding three aces and 13 digs and Witt four blocks.
Cheney went into this week with two opportunities to wrap up the No. 2 seed. They missed on the first attempt Monday night at Pullman, falling 25-22, 25-21 and 25-14 to the Greyhounds, who are unbeaten in Great Northern League play.
Stark had 20 assists and four aces, with Draper recording seven kills, Peace 11 digs and Witt three blocks.
The Lady Blackhawks (7-5 GNL, 9-4) wrapped up the regular season Tuesday night at East Valley, leading the Knights (6-5, 7-5) by one game in the race for the No. 2 seed. Both teams split their previous regular season meetings, making the contest a winner-take-all contest for seeding.
If Cheney claims the No. 2 seed they would face No. 5 Clarkston (2-10, 2-12) in the opening round Saturday morning. A loss lands the Lady Blackhawks in the No. 3 seed and a match up with No. 4 West Valley (2-9, 3-10).
Zorrozua said the two opening round games will be played simultaneously in Pullman’s two gyms. The winners will actually play for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds to the regional round, since the arrangement this year has both the GNL’s and Central Washington Athletic Conference’s top teams automatically advancing to state.
The GNL and CWAC’s next two teams will then play for the final two slots to state from the region.
Zorrozua said she feels pretty good about her team’s chances at advancing, despite what happens Tuesday night. The Lady Blackhawks will some time to go slow, break things down — and visualize.
“We’ll have some time to prepare for districts,” she said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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