Todd Beamer and Thomas Jefferson were the only two Federal Way schools not to play a non-league match against each other. When they met on Monday for the first time, it was Beamer that gained another win in the league standings with a 3-0 win.
Though the Titans won in straight sets, it was anything but a rout at Todd Beamer High School.
Jefferson came into the match with a three-match losing streak that included a loss to Kentwood in their first league game on Sept. 25. Prior to that, they were on a three-match winning streak.
Beamer was looking to add another win to their record, which currently only features one loss to 2A’s top ranked team the Tumwater Thunderbirds.
The first set went to Beamer by a score of 25-14. Beamer led by a good margin throughout, but Jefferson was able to get a few scoring streaks of their own going during the set. It was a sign of things to come.
The second set was closest and the best of the night. Beamer scored a couple of points to start the set, but Jefferson responded right back to tie the set back up.
Midway through the set, Jefferson took a 13-12 lead. From there, neither team could separate themselves from the other.
Both teams traded the lead throughout the teens of the set. Tied at 23, Beamer managed to take a 24-23 lead as Jefferson couldn’t handle Camryn Skari’s spike. Jefferson captain Taylor Sterling made a diving attempt, but the ball did not get back over the net.
The Titans took the set 25-23.
“I think it’s good to have sets like that,” Todd Beamer head coach Pat Taitano said. “Competition is definitely good. Any time you have that you appreciate it. I know Jefferson has improved a lot since last season. I was just glad that our girls were able to pull it out.”
The third set was not as hotly contested, but neither team rolled over. The Titans took the set 25-17, giving them the win in straight sets.
Freshman Renee Tiumalu led Beamer in kills with nine and aces with three. Skari was second on the team in kills with eight and second in digs with five.
Senior Leena Mackinzie led the team in digs with nine. Juniors Savanna Service and Mallorie Post both had five kills. Senior McKenna Milholland and junior Elisa Chew led the team in assists with 21 and 13.
“I’m really proud of the girls for pulling out the win,” Taitano said. “We got a chance to play a lot of our players. I let the young kids play and I was really glad about how they were able to battle even when things weren’t going our way.”
Jefferson (3-6, 0-3) fell to Mount Rainier on Wednesday in straight sets. Their next game is at Kent-Merdian (5-2, 1-2) on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7:15 p.m.
“My girls have been working really hard on coverage and moving their feet,” Thomas Jefferson head coach Diana Evans said. “I feel like they were starting to get in the swing of it and really realize that once they get in position they’re able to dig it up and do what they need to do.”
“I’m really proud of the girls for how they’ve played this year and today,” she said. “Coming into Beamer we knew it would be a tough game and they stepped up and played the way I expected them to.”
Beamer (5-1, 2-0) defeated a tough Kent-Meridian squad on Wednesday. They have a home, non-league match against Christian Faith School (5-1, 5-0 Sea-Tac 1B) on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7:15 p.m.
