Focus and intensity: These are the two things the Falcon volleyball team will need during the next couple of weeks.

They had it this week while beating two teams that don’t quite play on their level. But soon, the season schedule will send them into the teeth of their North Cascades Conference schedule to meet 2A state ranked Meridian, Lynden Christian and Lynnwood.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the Falcons didn’t have much worry about their winning record coming into jeopardy. Visiting the Sultan Turks for their first match of the week, the Falcons made a quick night of it, never letting the Turks score in the double digits in the 25-9, 25-4 and 25-7 victory.

Senior Jordan Tobler was the offensive leader on the night with seven kills against a team Falcon coach Tim Durbin called “real young and inexperienced.” Still, there were lessons to be learned.

“The great thing about our match was that our team kept their focus and intensity,” he said. “It is easy to lose that when you are playing a team that is overmatched.”

On Thursday, the Falcons got a bigger challenge against Granite Falls. Behind senior setter Brianna Hussey’s 23 assists and seven Katy McGillen kills, the Falcons took a slightly longer 25-15, 25-14, 25-13 victory over the Tigers.

The wins take the Falcons to 5-1 in regular matches and 9-1 including tournament play.

Despite that record, the Falcons are one winning NCC team that did not make the state coaches’ poll this week. Earning the state number-one ranking was Lynden Christian, followed by Nooksack at number three and Meridian at number four. The Falcons play the first of these ranked teams when they visit Meridian on Oct. 9.

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