Auburn Riverside volleyball coach Chris Leverenz has been with the team since the school opened its doors in 1995.
In the 13 years since, the coach can’t recall ever falling to Kent-Meridian. But that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday night as the Royals stunned the Ravens in a South Puget Sound League North Division match: 25-16, 25-20, 24-26 and 25-17.
“They’re better and we are not on our best right now,” lamented Leverenz, whose team took second at state last year in the 3A classification. “The team that practices is not the team that shows up on the floor.”
Of course, Auburn Riverside’s biggest player wasn’t even on the floor Tuesday night. Star Brooke Bray, whose earned first-team all-league honors two straight years, missed the match with a high-ankle sprain on her left leg.
“She’s our big power hitter,” noted Leverenz, who said Bray should be back in the lineup within the next two weeks. “We’re a whole different team with Brooke.”
Without Bray, however, the Ravens (0-1 in league, 1-3 overall heading into play on Thursday) couldn’t contain the upstart Royals.
Kent-Meridian’s Tanya Pyatohka, Kayla Ierlan and McKaley Brewer combined for 32 kills and seven blocks in the win. Setter Davina Fuiava added 33 assists and three aces for the Royals.
“Their setter did a really nice job slowing down the tempo for them,” Leverenz said of Fuiava. “She slows everything down and keeps her team in the game.”
Auburn Riverside was led by Candice Buchanan with 13 kills and Heidi Bell with 10 kills.
ALSO: Second-ranked Kentwood (2-0, 7-0) remained unblemished on Tuesday, cruising past Jefferson in three games on Tuesday, 25-9, 25-16, 25-10. Jocy Wilson served up 25 assists while Ally Patterson and Erin Campbell collected six kills apiece for the Conquerors. Rachelle Eckert led the Raiders (0-2, 3-3) with five kills. Jefferson will host Tahoma, this at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 8. Kentwood will travel to Kentridge for a 7 p.m. contest versus Kentridge. … Despite 14 assists and three aces from Sierra Atkinson, Auburn (0-1, 0-4) was unable to handle Curtis on Tuesday in a nonleague match, falling 25-15, 25-22, 25-19. … Kentridge remained tied with Kentlake, Kent-Meridian and Kentwood for the top spot, knocking off Federal Way, 25-20, 25-26, 25-17. Ashley Nguyen continued to post big numbers for the Chargers (2-0, 4-2) pounding out a match-high 12 kills to go along with three aces. Marissa Fujimoto added 22 assists, and Kelli Sugaro chipped in 13 digs. … Auburn Mountainview (3-1, 6-1) slipped by Enumclaw (0-2, 2-3) this past Wednesday, 22-25, 25-14, 25-7, 25-21. Alex Odren had 14 digs and 5 aces and Megan McBride added 14 kills and 27 assists.
