"Hoping to make their first state appearance in years, the South Whidbey High School volleyball players found last weekend that they will need another year and a better district tournament draw to take the big step to the big show.Deeper into the playoffs than they had been in three years, the Falcons traveled to Vashon High School Saturday to face two of the top squads in the Northwest 2A Bi-District. Unfortunately for them, the teams from Eatonville and Foster were a little too big and a little too strong. They sent the Falcons home after just two matches.It was a sad end to a remarkable season, said first-year head coach Tim Durbin. After watching his team's play improve twofold during the last two weeks of the season, Durbin said he and his players were certain that a trip to state was in their future. The Falcons won three matches in two nights last week to get to the district tournament.It's always tough to end on a bit of a down note, Durbin said.In their first game Saturday, the Falcons threatened to knock off Eatonville, which came into the tournament ranked as the number-one team. After falling 7-15 in the first game, the Falcons rallied for a 15-9 win in the second. But they lost their momentum in the third, losing 5-15.In their second matchup of the day, the Falcons lost in two games to a scrappy Foster team. The score was 4-15, 11-15.With the season's end, the Falcons look ahead to a 2001 season bereft of four talented seniors. Graduating off the 2000 team will be setter Erin Hussey, outside hitters Jamie Nelson and Sally Schimpf and backup setter Kaitlin King. However, Durbin said, he looks forward to next season, when players like juniors Melissa Poolman and Jenny Saephan and freshman Katie McGillen will lead the team. "

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