Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — The sport of volleyball takes center stage in this week’s awards.

The Big 5 schools began conference play last week, and it’s been a fun start with two thrilling five-set games in the opening six days of conference action.

The Eureka Loggers got the new B5 campaign off to a flying start with a pair of wins, including a statement victory over defending champs Arcata on Thursday.

Many people felt the Eureka girls could compete for the conference title this fall and the Loggers have lived up to those expectations this far.

Head coach Stephanie Napoleon has a quality roster at her disposal and the players are playing with a confidence that suggests they could be ready to end a seven-year wait for a conference title.

That was evident on the way they rallied from a set down to edge the Tigers, suggesting they will be a tough matchup for anyone.

And that earns them the nod for this week’s Humboldt Sports Team of the Week.

Despite their conference-opening loss, it wasn’t all bad news for the Arcata girls.

Head coach Laurie Griffith and her players bounced back from their loss at Eureka by beating Del Norte in another five-set thriller on Tuesday night.

The consistently dangerous Nora Brumbaugh continued her impressive season with a big performance in what was her team’s most important game so far, and that earns her one of our Athlete of the Week awards.

On the other side of the net, Del Norte’s Bliss Blackburn was equally impressive keeping the Warriors in the game.

The senior multi-sport standout looks set to close out her high school sports career in dynamic fashion this year and has hit the ground running on the volleyball court.

And that earns her the nod for our second athlete of the week.

Nora Brumbaugh (4)

Bliss Blackburn

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 

Nora Brumbaugh

Arcata Volleyball, Senior

Bliss Blackburn

Del Norte Volleyball, Senior

Brumbaugh and Blackburn knew what was on the line for their respective teams on Tuesday night when the Warriors and Tigers faced off against each other, and both played like it.

A matchup between two of the best programs in the H-DNL, which have accounted for the past five Big 5 titles between them, lived up to expectations.

In the end, the Arcata girls did just enough to secure the victory, leaving both teams 1-1 in conference and right on the Loggers’ heels in the standings.

Brumbaugh finished the game with 14 kills and had a big night serving the ball.

“Nora Brumbaugh was nails tonight,” Griffith said afterwards.

So too was Blackburn, who had a game-high 18 kills, as well as 25 digs and four aces.

“She’s just a phenomenal athlete,” Del Norte coach Petra Lorenzi said. “It was a big night for her and that’s what we expect.

“She’s a great leader out there. She couldn’t have done much more than she did.”

For more on their big week, see B5 VOLLEYBALL — Tigers take five-set thriller …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Eureka Volleyball

There’s still a long way to go in the race for the Big 5 championship, but no one has come out of the starting gates in more impressive fashion than the Loggers.

After their statement win at home against Arcata, the Eureka girls made sure there would be no letdown on Tuesday night with a straight sets win over McKinleyville.

That victory lifted the Loggers into sole possession of the conference lead.

Several players have been impressing for Napoleon’s team, none more so than standout junior Tiarah Maualuga, who is playing at an MVP level early in the conference campaign.

Alena Battle, Ramona Dusel, Macy Secor, Eddy Hale and Violla Kingsang, among others, each also are playing at high level this year.

For more on the Loggers’ big week, see Loggers top defending champs with statement win in Big 5 opener …