POULSBO — At 5 feet 11 inches tall with a proficient spiking ability, Central Kitsap senior Lindsey Fryer’s kills Wednesday night versus the Vikings looked more like basketball slam dunks than volleyball spikes.
Fryer, last year’s Narrows’ Bridge Division MVP, led the Cougs with 13 kills and four blocks as CK defeated its Poulsbo rivals 25-11, 25-8, 22-25, 25-9.
Central Kitsap (1-0), the defending Narrows’ Bridge champs and state qualifiers, lost its only set using its second team, when Fryer and many of her teammates rested on the bench.
“(Central Kitsap) is at a little different level than we are now,” admitted Vikes coach Tim French. “But we knew that this game would be a measuring stick for us.”
French, in his first game as head coach for the Vikings — also the team’s first appearance in the newly renovated NK gym — was pleased with his squad’s never-say-die attitude.
“It’s never over,” French said. “Even when we managed to win the third game, it didn’t matter who was on the floor (for CK). You still have to execute.”
“It’s all about the confidence level and sticking to your game plan,” French added.
Leading the way for North Kitsap (0-1) was Jennifer Buckner, who had five kills and six digs and Molly McCluskey, who put up four kills and seven digs. Team setter Kearney Bangs had 15 assists and Lauren Romero had eight digs in her debut as team libero.
In contrast to the first-year coach French, Gordy Bushaw, who led the Cougars to a 23-6 record a year ago, is in his 23rd year as head Cougars coach. The team is gearing up for another possible playoff run.
The Cougs graduated only four seniors and are gearing up for league play in what will be Fryers’ — as well as fellow seniors Ana Hurley’s, Brittany Waldon’s and Tara Simons’ — last year at Central.
“I was really pleased with how poised our starters were to play,” Bushaw said. “Those first two games they really took care of business.”
Bushaw said Central Kitsap will likely face its toughest competition in defending the Narrows’ title from Gig Harbor and Shelton. But don’t rule North out, he said.
“They’ve got some good, strong hitters,” Bushaw commented. “They probably weren’t playing as well as they could, not nearly as well as they will later in the season.”
Like French, Bushaw saw the game as a benchmark for upcoming league play.
“First games are never indicative of the season,” Bushaw said. “When we play later, that’s the one that counts.”
North will go to CK on Oct. 7 for the regular season match.
North’s JV lost the earlier match to CK, 25-21, 26-24, 15-9.
Next up for the Vikings is a non-league match at 4 p.m. today at Sequim.
