Still undefeated, Washington’s Peredo and Faamausili substitute heart for height: “they hit like six-footers”

Washington’s volleyball team jogged during warmups at their Tuesday practice. Paul Souza, now in his 24th season as head coach, had just eight varsity players.

“We’re a small, short team,” Souza said. “But we’re scrappy. Everywhere we go, (other teams) look at those girls like: ‘Really? Really?’”

Even if their roster runs thin, and their tallest player stands at five-foot-eight, the Patriots are an undefeated 12-0 and are ranked No. 2 in the state by the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association. Everywhere they go, in fact, they win.

They’re small in stature, but their record stands tall enough to see the state tournament in the distance.

“This is one of the few teams that I know that just plays with heart,” Souza said. “And they work hard in conditioning.”

Last season, the pandemic canceled postseason play, but Washington finished 8-1 and took down then-undefeated Steilacoom for the district title. In 2019, the Patriots never lost a league game, and finished third at the state tournament.

They lost to eventual-champion Ridgefield (currently the state’s top ranked 2A team) in the 2019 state semifinals, although Souza said that it felt like the championship game. Washington’s squad went up against four Division-I players, all above six feet tall, and almost forced a fifth and final set.

That’s where they want to get back.

Washington remains a perennial contender, but Souza endured a hiccup earlier this season when just 14 players tried out for the team. Enumclaw had 68 players try out, Souza said. White River had 48. Steilacoom had 46.

“I personally could hear chuckling in the back like, ‘yeah, okay, this is the year we’ve got them,’” Souza said.

Sirena Peredo was one of Washington’s tryout attendees, though her varsity roster spot wasn’t really in question. A freshman when Washington advanced to the state semifinals, Peredo was already second-best in the league in kills, and finished first in the statistic last year.

By the time Peredo was six years old, Souza was her coach; he said the Washington standout always played two years ahead of her age.

“One-on-one, there’s not a player better than her in our league,” Souza said. “She’s only five-foot-five, but jumps like a six-footer.”

Peredo’s volleyball IQ puts her among the state’s best, Souza said. And that makes her versatile; when Peredo plays in the back row, she can set and pass. When put to the task of hitting on top blockers, she can place her shots. She doesn’t have to overpower them, Souza said.

Peredo’s older sister, Tasi, was the first to put Washington on the map, Souza said.

“They do come and support a lot,” Peredo said of her family. “It really inspires me and encourages me to be the best player I can be. And it’s so motivating knowing that my family likes to watch me, and comes out, and is there to cheer on the team. It really pushes me to be a good player.”

Alongside Peredo is Charmayne Faamausili, a four-year player with the Patriots. She’s the vocal leader that takes over when the team finds itself in a deficit, Souza said. They’ve trailed 2-1 multiple times throughout this season’s 12-0 run, but have rallied to win the fourth and fifth sets every time.

“We would not be where we’re at right now without her,” Souza said of Faamausili. “She shows great leadership. Sirena is a quiet leader. She leads by example on the court. ... Charmayne shows it on the court, but she can also lead vocally. When we fall behind, she’s the one that gives speeches.”

Faamausili’s cousins, twins Gabrielle and Danielle, play volleyball for Steilacoom.

Is there a family rivalry brewing? Any bragging rights on the line?

“No, none of that,” Faamausili said. “We all love each other. … People say that it should be competitive, but honestly it just makes me feel supported. Either way, they’re still family. You’re still going to love them. It doesn’t really change what happens off the court.”

And like Peredo, Faamausili “hits like a six footer,” Souza said. She’s hoping to play beyond high school, and on Tuesday, Bellevue College called Souza to inquire about the Patriots’ outside hitter.

There’s a family-like relationship among Washington’s group, too. They have their good days, and they have their bad days, Souza said. It’s on the court where everything is hashed out, and they become sisters.

“Everyone brings different aspects to what makes us a team,” Faamausili said. “So that kind of plays into how everything fits perfectly with each other. That helps us play together as a team, and how we bond as a team.”

“Like if we lack in (an aspect), but this teammate can do that, we just learn off of each other,” Peredo added. “We really work together. We have a good bond outside of volleyball, too.”

It wasn’t until two weeks into the season that fellow Washington coaches encouraged students to join the team, and rosters were filled. There’s a chance tryout numbers will remain low, after Souza had to suspend his offseason club team, 253 Elite, due to the pandemic.

The club team jointly acted as a “feeder” team to the Washington program. In most years, six or seven of Washington’s players participated in the club. Souza made 253 Elite an affordable option, costing $1,000 to join. Other clubs asked upwards of $3,800, he said.

And Souza preaches health and safety on a regular basis. While the junior varsity squads practice in the main gymnasium, the varsity team is safely distanced in an auxiliary gym down the hall.

“With COVID, you know, our success could end tomorrow,” Souza said. “They are sacrificing a lot of time with friends. I tell them, ‘hey, you’ve got to sacrifice your time with friends, family, etc. You guys have to be safe, because all it takes is one of you to get exposed, and we’re done.

“Give me three more weeks of selflessness, and then you can go back to being with your friends.”

It’s a sacrifice they’re willing to make, as the Patriots continue on with their undefeated run. Ridgefield, the team that took them down two seasons ago, could wind up on Washington’s state tournament schedule in Yakima on November 19 and 20 — they’re undefeated, too.

“It starts at practice,” Peredo said. “Coming in with good attitudes, good energy, it really sets the tone for the team and everybody’s just very high-spirited. (There’s) a lot of joy.

“It’s fun seeing them every day after school and playing the game we all love. We all look forward to that.”