Back in action

Eric Spruill
The Edmond Sun

September 17, 2008 10:51 pm

— The No. 3-ranked Santa Fe volleyball team will be back in action on Friday morning when it brings in some of the states top teams for the Santa Fe Invitational.
It will be the first time the Lady Wolves have taken the court in two and a half weeks, and will be the first time this season that the team will have played without Heather Harkness, who died during an appendectomy last week.
Santa Fe head coach Will Ethridge really does not know what to expect from his squad in the upcoming weeks.
“(Practices have been) Some good, some bad. It’s been tough, this is all new to us, none of have ever gone through anything like this,” Santa Fe head coach Will Ethridge said. “This will be a tough tournament for us to resume play in.”
The top three teams in 6A will be in attendance, including No. 1-ranked Memorial, No. 2 Union, and No. 3 Santa Fe. No. 6 North, No. 7 Broken Arrow, No. 10 Putnam City and No. 11 Norman will also be there.
“Broken Arrow is the No. 3-seed in our pool. Putnam City comes in with a 12-3 record, but hasn’t beat any of the top teams, and Norman has competed with some of the top teams, but hasn’t got a win against them. The tournament is loaded,” Ethridge said.
Broken Arrow’s biggest win of the season came early, in a five-set win over Jenks. The Tigers have lost four of their last five matches, however, those losses came to North, Bishop Kelley, and Owasso. All teams that should compete for the state title.
MEMORIAL BEATS MCGUINNESS, FALLS TO HERITAGE HALL
The No. 1-ranked Edmond Memorial volleyball team knocked off Bishop McGuinness on Tuesday night, followed by a narrow loss to Heritage Hall.
Memorial had a tough time putting away the Lady Irish, winning 25-19, 25-19, 15-25, 21-25.
Heritage Hall, who is the top-ranked team in class 4A, beat the Lady Bulldogs 25-22, 26-24, 27-25. Heritage Hall is 19-1 on the year, with its only loss coming in a four-set defeat from Bishop Kelley.
NORTH GAINING STEAM
While North started the season just 3-4, they are rapidly gaining ground, winning six of their last eight matches and now stand at 10-6 on the year.
Dating back to Aug. 25, North has defeated 5A’s No. 2-ranked McAlester in four games, then No. 5-ranked Broken Arrow in three, and No. 10 Putnam City in three.
It’s hard to say that North dropped off the radar due to its early season struggles, but teams around the state better take notice, because this doesn’t appear to be the same North team from earlier in the season.