GARFIELD ENDS BOTHELL STREAK
-Bill Woten, King County Journal
October 2, 2003

BOTHELL -- The Garfield volleyball team stunned Bothell in four games Wednesday night, ending the Cougars' 33-match league winning streak.

Game scores were 17-25, 28-26, 25-15, 25-23.

First-place Garfield improved to 3-0 in 4A Kingco. The previous six years, the Bulldogs had a combined record of 14-60.

``They played awesome,'' Bothell coach Russ Kerwin said. ``They are a really good team. Their basic skills are very good, they have a lot of options, and their depth helps them more than anything. They play all phases of the game.''

Garfield received big contributions from several players, including Lillie Cohn (15 kills, 29 digs), Cat Juson (26 assists), Chelle Ticeson (10 kills) and libero Amanda Jamieson (36 digs).

The victory was Garfield's most notable since joining the conference in 1997, and another big step in the turnaround under coach Leslie Hamann, who is in her fourth year with the Bulldogs.

``I always said that our key was to start playing defense like Bothell does,'' Hamann said. ``It's the team you look up to. You just can't put a ball away against them. Tonight, we matched them defense for defense.''

Despite a pair of close games, Garfield stood tall. Among its top seven players, the Bulldogs have three juniors, two sophomores and two seniors.

``We stayed aggressive and the kids were still swinging hard,'' Hamann said. ``We were under pressure a couple of times, but didn't fold.''

With Hamann as coach, Garfield has improved its league victory total each year (zero in 2000, two in 2001, six last year). The Bulldogs' progress has been as much about mentality as on-court skills.

``It's like anything,'' Hamann said. ``Winning gets into your head, just like losing does. It's taken a long time to turn that around.''

Garfield took the court inspired after watching its JV team sweep Bothell in three games. The varsity Bulldogs then did their part.

``It's pretty cool,'' said Hamann, when told her team is in first place. ``I'm very proud of the girls.''

Bothell had not lost since a five-game defeat to Woodinville on Sept. 27, 2000.

Since the 4A Kingco formed in 1997, the Cougars are now 75-3 in regular-season league matches. Bothell's other loss was to Woodinville in five games on Sept. 30, 1999.

``My hat's off to Garfield,'' Kerwin said. ``We played well, but didn't beat them. We've got some work to do.''

Lauren Wainhouse had 13 kills and five aces and Ali Simmons had 20 assists for the Cougars (2-1, 5-1).