Warriors win big in volleyball jamboree

SILVERDALE — King’s West kicked off the volleyball season in style, winning all six games in a jamboree at the Kitsap Fairgrounds Pavilion in Bremerton on Wednesday.

The volleyball team has plenty of big guns returning to the floor, but the job of loading for the attack is a question mark. Coach Dan Dittmer has described the setter position as “by committee.”

Three returning players earned some level of all-league recognition last year in SeaTac League voting.

Hannah Fontenot was named to the second team as a middle blocker and Irene Moore was the second-team libero (defensive specialist). Fontenot (five-feet, 11-inches) and Moore (5-4) are both juniors. Senior Megan Spence (6-1) was an honorable mention outside hitter last season.

All three have been in the starting lineup for three years, but this season Fontenot moves to the outside hitter slot, while Spence slides to the middle blocker position.

Two other returning starters bring good size and strong play to the Warriors, as Megan Morris (6-0, senior) and Liz Johnson (5-10, junior) respectively fill the other outside hitter and middle blocker positions.

Hillary Sexauer (5-4, senior) returns as an outside hitter with two years of varsity experience and Samantha Kappert (5-8, sophomore) brings one year of varsity service as another outside hitter.

The Warriors were especially sharp when it came to serving at the jamboree on Wednesday, hitting 95 percent of their serves in play and tallying 28 aces.

King’s West started the day with a 25-14 win against Neah Bay after having to adjust the schedule when Shelton arrived late due to bus problems.

The Warriors followed with wins against Quilcene (25-8), Chief Leschi (25-5), Klahowya (25-11), Mt. Rainier Lutheran (25-8) and the Shelton JV team (25-16).

The jamboree format was one game against each.

Fontenot led the way with 18 aces out of her 42 serves. Fontenot also connected on seven kills.

Johnson smacked down seven kills and added four blocks from the middle, also serving up a pair of aces.

Spence was another powerful part of the offense, spiking down nine kills, serving three aces and making two block kills.

With King’s West not having a true setter, Moore led the committee with 13 assists. The defensive specialist also made 15 digs on the day.

Kappert made seven assists, hit two aces and made a block kill.

Morris added a block and an ace, while Kayla Shannon made two digs and Sexauer pitched in with her own ace.

Last year’s team finished 14-5, placing fourth in the league and earning a Tri-District entry.

“We should be fairly competitive in the league,” Dittmer said. “The real question is at setter.”

King’s West hosts Neah Bay today in the team’s home opener at 11:30 a.m.

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