It was a week of diminishing returns -- and serving and passing -- for the Falcon volleyball team.

On both Tuesday and Thursday, North Cascade Conference opponents had South Whidbey's number and just kept pushing it down in two matches that went from hopeful to hopeless.

Against Mount Baker Tuesday, the Falcons spoiled their 2-0 conference record in a 15-11, 13-15, 1-15, 10-15 contest. Though junior setter Brianna Hussey set up hitters with 17 assists and hitters Jordan Tobler and Julie Robinson combined for 14 kills, South Whidbey's offense sputtered after an opening-game win, then faded altogether.

"We came out strong, but our passing let us down," said Falcon coach Tim Durbin.

Designs on winning faded even faster Thursday against Meridian. The Trojans squeaked by South Whidbey in a lengthy, 15-11 win in the first game, then found a punishing offensive rhythm in wins in the night's second and third games.

In the early going, it seemed as though the Falcons might make a match of it. After falling behind 8-1 in the first game, the South Whidbey girls regrouped to pound away at the Meridian defense. Solid serving from Hussey put some points on the board as the defense kept the score close.

But the Trojans seemed to figure out the Falcons' tricks and made short work of any resistance in the next two games.

The statistical leader for the Falcons against Meridian was again Hussey, who had 15 assists and five kills on the night.

Play went better for South Whidbey's junior varsity and freshman teams. The JV Falcons won a 2-15, 15-10, 15-12 match against Meridian to improve their season record to 6-2. The freshman team also won, moving to 7-0.

Now 2-2 in the NCC and 5-4 overall, the varsity Falcons head into the second half of their conference schedule with a game Tuesday at Granite Falls and a home game Thursday against Lakewood.

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