Mid-Week Volleyball: Garfield, Prep, West Seattle stay tops

Nathan Hale (2-1) vs. Garfield (3-0)

Fresh off two 3-1 Metro League wins over Franklin and Ingraham, Nathan Hale ventured to the Central District to clash with Garfield, who was hoping to continue its hot start to the season with two league wins over Ingraham and Ballard.

The Bulldogs set the tone early, notching a 25-11 win in the first set on the back of Taya Blankenship-Powers. The senior outside hitter recorded a devastating 17 total kills for the hosts, earning a 5.7 kills per set. MaxPreps’ 2022 Player of the Year, Nicole Kwatinetz chipped in with 9 kills of her own and a healthy 3.0 kills per set.

The bad news for the Metro League is that Blankenship-Powers’ 5.7 kills happens to also be her average for the first three games of the season — meaning her 17 kills might not be an anomaly but the new standard. Blankenship-Powers finished last season with 2.7 kills per set, so her hot start to the season could be tough to sustain, but it doesn’t make it any less impressive.

Hale battled back in Set 2 and 3 but had no answer in the end for Garfield’s attack. The Raiders will take the rest of the week off before welcoming the Ballard Beavers next Monday at 7PM. Garfield is back in action tonight as they head to Renton to clash with non-conference Hazen High School.

Seattle Prep (3-0) vs. Eastside Catholic (2-1)

The Panthers traveled out to the Plateau to visit the Crusaders and walked away with a comfortable 3-0 win over the hosts. Outside hitter Delaney Dorscht led the way for the visitors, notching multiple kills in all three sets and showing off her hitting power throughout.

The Crusaders kept each set close but ultimately couldn’t string together enough momentum to offset the Panthers’ quality service game. Last season’s Mountain Division All-League Libero Ella Bode couldn’t keep the visitors at bay, as the Crusaders took their first loss of the season.

Up next for the Panthers is a visit to non-conference Kennedy Catholic tonight at 7:15PM. The Crusaders look ahead to their own visit to their neighboring, non-league opponent Skyline tonight at 7PM.

West Seattle (3-0) vs. Lakeside (1-2)

The West Seattle Panthers swept aside the Lakeside Lions in three sets to secure their spot at the top of the Metro Mountain Division alongside Seattle Prep.

The Panthers haven’t dropped a set in the last two games, while they turn their attention toward a big, early-season match against Seattle Prep in Eastlake. While there’s still plenty of volleyball to be played this season, both 3-0 teams will be hoping to set a tone and send a message to the rest of the Metro League.

After recording an opening-day conference win over Roosevelt, Lakeside hasn’t been able to rediscover the magic of last season’s state-championship campaign, as the Lions haave now dropped a fourth consecutive game to go 1-2 in conference play and 1-4 overall.