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Prep Volleyball / All-League

The high school volleyball season came and went with many of the usual suspects putting together the type of performances that long ago put their programs on the map. And there were a few surprises in the mix, too.

Kelso was once again in the hunt for a 3A Greater St. Helens League title and found its way back to the state tournament. Some things never change, even when the surnames in the match reports do.

R.A. Long turned heads this fall with a third place finish in the 2A GSHL standings, and then made those heads spin all the way around with a win over Ridgefield at the district tournament to claim a berth in the state tournament. Meanwhile, Mark Morris and Woodland were right in the mix all along the way before bowing out on Day 2 at Districts.

Kalama and Castle Rock found themselves in a slobber-knocker for positioning in the 1A Trico League as per usual, but it was the Chinoooks who got hot at the right time. The ‘Nooks shocked La Center to win the District championship before seeing their run end on the final day of the season at the state tournament.

Toutle Lake and Toledo both managed to fight their weay through the Central 2B League and kept on swinging and digging until they’d made it out of the district tournament. The Fighting Ducks wound up finishing fifth at State, while Toledo posted its first win at the tournament since 1987. Meanwhile, Winlock managed to finish its season and even found a set win on the final day of the regular season.

Naselle and Wahkiakum put some renewed energy into the Km Mountain Battle, and then took that rivalry on the road. After the Comets won the 1B Coastal League title, and the District championship to reach the state tournament, they wound up pitted against the Mules in a loser-out game on Trophy Saturday at the state tournament. It was Naselle who won that rematch and went on to place seventh at State. However, it was the Mules who improved the most from August to November – making history in the process by becoming the first No. 20 seed to make it to Day 2 of the state tournament— and they’re fixing to get back to Yakima as soon as possible.

Over in Oregon Country the Rainier Columbians and Clatskanie Tigers squared off early in the season and then went their separate ways. Rainier wound up falling short of a postseason berth, but the the Tigers were nearly perfect on their way to a second place finish at the state tournament with a host of awards bestowed upon them by their peers.

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Prep Volleyball / Report

The Kelso volleyball team brought its A-game to the 3A State Tournament but couldn’t pull together the points needed to advance out of the opening round. The No. 18 ranked Hilanders fell to No. 15 ranked Timberline in four sets, Friday morning, at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

The Lassies took the first set, and even went to extra points in the third frame, but wound up dropping the loser-out contest by scores of 23-25, 25-13, 26-24 and 25-22.

It seems logical now to say that the Blazers were under-ranked. At least that’s what a seventh place trophy would lead casual observers to conclude. And in the bitter end, the Lassies were simply unable to replicate their hot start in the season’s final three sets.

“I feel like we played fantastic,” Kelso head coach Michelle Mury said. “We had a little struggle with serving, but we also had a lot of girls play the best they have all season, so it was satisfying to finish playing well.”

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Prep Volleyball / Report

The Kelso volleyball team is State bound, and it’s safe to assume the Hilanders are looking forward to seeing some new competition when they arrive in Yakima.

Last week the Hilanders embarked on the newfangled 3A GSHL/District IV Tournament, eschewing the convoluted bi-District format after all these years. But that straightforward bracket also meant Kelso was simply rematching against its same old league foes for a third time.

That was all fine and dandy when the Lassies swept Mountain View in the opening round on Thursday. But things took a familiar turn toward the frustrating when Kelso was swept by Prairie in the championship match on Saturday in Vancouver. The Hawks took their third straight three-set contest over the Lassies by scores of 25-21, 25-14 and 25-20.

“(We) battled with heart and grit in the District Championship but ultimately fell to a tough Prairie squad,” Kelso head coach Michelle Mury said.

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Prep Volleyball / Reports

YAKIMA VALLEY SUNDOME — It’s easy for a volleyball novice to look at a match, see a heavy hitter on the winning side of the net, and assume that the biggest girl, who jumps the highest, swings the hardest, and stacks up twice as many kills as anyone else might have been a problem for the losing team to contend with.

So when Fife’s Talula Lenoir smacked one ball after another off the sport court in the 2A State Tournament at the Yakima SunDome, some reporters began to wonder if she might have single-handedly been responsible for eliminating R.A. Long, Friday, in the 2A State Tournament at the SunDome.

R.A. Long head coach Whitney Nailon made sure to put that notion to bed quicker than a pair of pre-K boys at storybook time.

“We made a lot of hitting errors and our serving game was off. We just weren’t consistent,” Nailon said. “Offensively we could have been smarter and it got away from us.”

Alas, the Lumberjills were unable to close out on a promising start against he Trojans and wound up falling in five sets on the dark side of the bracket. That loss, combined with a sweep at the hands of Tumwater earlier in the day, brough R.A. Long’s season to an unceremonious close on the season’s biggest stage.

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Prep Volleyball / Reports

YAKIMA VALLEY SUNDOME — The Kalama volleyball team thought that winning a District Championship would change its fortune, or at least its prospects, heading into the 1A State Tournament. And while the Chinooks managed to reach Day 2 of bracket play over the weekend, the season ended in an eerily similar fashion to last season.

The ‘Nooks opened the tournament with a four-set win over No. 9 ranked King’s, but fell to top-ranked Chelan by sweep in the quarterfinals. That loss put Kalama up against No. 4 Lynden Christian in an elimination match on Saturday morning, which the ‘Nooks lost in three sets.

It was the second season in a row in which Kalama fell to the Goats and Lynx.

In a different world, where your most recent win matters, Kalama could have been matched up against La Center in the quarterfinals, or even the semifinals. And that’s a match the ‘Nooks know they can win after taking out the Wildcats in five sets for the District championship.

But that’s not the way the cookie crumbled for Kalama. Instead, the seeding committee did the ‘Nooks no favors, and the rest was all too reminiscent of recent history.

“I think it was all mental. They are an absolutely capable team, unfortunately at State I think it gets in their head,” Kalama head coach Rebecca Clark said. “From the beginning they see a tough draw and they’re like, ‘Let’s just go have fun.’ I believe they could have done it, but things just didn’t go our way.”

— The Kalama Chinooks pick up the first point in an elimination match against Lynden Christian in the 1A State Tournament, Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Yakima Valley SunDome. / Video by Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media —

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Prep Volleyball / Photo Gallery

YAKIMA — R.A. Long’s first trip to the state volleyball tournament in more than a decade and a half did not last as long as the Lumberjills would have liked. In fact, the Jills were knocked out of the tournament on the first day and are still looking for their first win at the tournament since 2009.

The Jills opened the tournament on Friday afternoon with a three-set loss to Tumwater. R.A. Long dropped the contest to the 2A EvCo champion T-Birds by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-14.

R.A. Long appeared poised to secure a return ticket to The Dome later in the evening in its elimination contest against No. 12 ranked Fife. The Jills won the first and third sets, and held an early lead in the fifth frame, but could not get the stops and points they needed to extend their season to the final day on the schedule, falling to the Trojans by scores of 18-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23 and 15-12.

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Prep Volleyball / Photo Gallery

YAKIMA — Kalama was able to earn an invite back to the SunDome for the final day of the season during the opening rounds of the 1A State Volleyball Tournament, Friday.

The No. 8 ranked Chinooks came out and opened the day with a four-set win over No. 9 ranked King’s by scores of 25-23, 25-17, 14-25, and 25-19.

But Kalama was unable to notch an upset in the quarterfinals when it squared off with No. 1 ranked Chelan. The ‘Nooks dropped that contest by scores of 25-13, 25-18 and 25-16.

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BIG K COURT — The Kelso volleyball team earned its self several more tomorrows as well as a shot at redemption for good measure with a sweep of Mountain View to open the 3A GSHL/District IV Tournament, Thursday night on its home floor.

The Hilanders took the match by scores of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-10.

“(Our) momentum never wavered as (they) tightened their grip with each set,” Kelso head coach Michelle Mury noted. “(They finished) the match with a dominant third-set performance to officially punch their ticket to the State Tournament.”

The victory also sets Kelso up to play Prairie for the District championship later this week.

— Kelso’s Royal Grafton (3) powers a cross court kill for a point during the Hilanders sweep of Mountain View, Thursday, Nov. 13, at home on the Big K Court. / Video by Ben Hendrickson for Blast Zone Media —

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2B Prep Volleyball / Report

The Toutle Lake volleyball team was unable to bring home the state championship it had been chasing, but that doesn’t mean it came home empty handed. The Fighting Ducks won twice in the consolation rounds on Thursday in order to secure a fifth place finish in the 2B State Tournament at the Yakima SunDome.

The No. 4 ranked Ducks opened the tournament with a four-set win over Davenport on Wednesday, but wound up falling in four sets to No. 5 ranked Lind-Ritzville-Sprague in their four-set quarterfinal match later in the day.

Toutle Lake came out on fire for the final day of the season, claiming a trophy and revenge along the way. That final chapter include a four-set win over their top-ranked C2BL rivals from Rainier (WA), and a five-set win over No. 3 ranked Tonasket in the trophy match.

“They fought really hard the last two days to bring home fifth place as a team. It was a great ride!” Toutle Lake head coach Erika Gould said.

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2B Prep Volleyball / Report

It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for the Toledo volleyball team at the 2B State Tournament this week, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a historic trip to Yakima. The Riverhawks managed to lockdown the program’s first State victory since 1981 with a sweep of La Conner on Wednesday in order to survive to the second day of action.

“We made it to Day Two so I’m gonna call that a win,” Toledo head coach Kelli Larison said.

Toledo was ranked No. 14 and opened the tournament with a four-set loss to Tonasket, then rebounded to defeat La Conner, before being eliminated in a heartbreaking five-set loss to River view on Thursday morning.

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1B Prep Volleyball / Report

By now these Naselle Comets know the way to Yakima like the back of their hand. And Saturday they made sure those hands had a trophy to carry on their way back from the SunDome after securing a seventh place finish in the 1B State Volleyball Tournament.

Naselle entered the tournament ranked No. 8 by the WIAA seeding committee and saw its hopes of a State championship dashed in the opening round with a three-set loss to No. 9 ranked Wilbure-Creston-Keller. But the Comets recovered their steam in time to defeat Northport in an elimination match that earned them a return ticket to The Dome on Thursday.

And who did the Comets face? None other than their next-town-neighbors from Wahkiakum for a Km Mountain Battle on the other side of a different, much larger, mountain.

Naselle took out the Mules in four sets and then rematched with Taholah, the team it defeated for the District title just last weekend, and emerged victorious in a five-set battle to lockdown seventh place.

The senior Comets were freshmen on the team when Naselle placed third in the tournament, and head coach Bekah Wirkkala says that this year’s group was as well prepared as any group she’s coached.

And what’s more, they really seem to enjoy putting in the work.

“I think they’re great. I think this is probably the best we’ve been as a team … they’re just in great shape,” Wirkkala noted. “We’ve been lifting throughout th season and conditioning and preparing for this. Physically I think they could have played a whole other match. Mentally, and emotionally, maybe not so much.”

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Prep Volleyball / Report

The Wahkiakum Mules went to Yakima and made history this week when they became the first No. 20 seed ever to advance to the second day of the 1B State Tournament.

“We managed to stay alive,” Wahkiakum head coach Kayli Hurley said. “I’m really proud of them — Little ol’ No. 20.”

The Mules tied for first place in the 1B Columbia Valley League during the regular season, but lost a tiebreaker to Pe Ell for the No. 1 seed to the District Tournament. Then Wahkiakum wound up eliminating Pe Ell at the end of that bracket last weekend for one of the final berths into the state tournament.

The Mules were not rewarded handsomely by the seeding committee for their determination, and so they had to do everything the hard way. Classic Mules.

“Our whole strategy coming into this weekend was one game at a time,” Hurley said. “One point at a time. Because when these kids start thinking about big holes, they can get a little overwhelmed.”

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Prep Volleyball / Roundup

The Toutle Lake Ducks are probably getting tired of seeing the Mountaineers on the schedule. And if they’re lucky, they just might get another shot to face their most annoying foe this season.

The Ducks fell in straight sets to the Mounties on Saturday in the 2B District IV championship match at Adna High School by scores of 27-25, 27-25 and 25-22.

And that was the second time this season the Mountaineers have managed to get the best of the East Cowlitz County crew. The first time was a sweep at The Other Rainier way back on Sept. 25.

That fact becomes all the more outstanding when you remember Toutle Lake has lost just three times all season.

But the Mountaineers and C2BL MVP Allyson Ooms proved to be too much for the Ducks to put away in the District title tilt. The victory sends Rainier to to the state tournament for the third straight year, while earning the program its first District title tilt since 1998, when head coach Carrie Ooms was a senior for the Mounties.

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By Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Volleyball / District Reports

TUMWATER — The R.A. Long Lumberjills are heading back to the state tournament for the first time since 2009 after earning third place at the 2A District IV volleyball tournament over the weekend at Tumwater High School.

R.A. Long secured a berth with a sweep (25-20, 25-15, 25-19) against their league foes from Ridgefield in the bronze trophy match. That stunning victory came after earning a five-set victory against Woodland in the consolation semifinals, when the Jills rallied back in the fifth set to win in extra points after trailing 10-5.

“It feels really good. To sweep them in three, to battle in five against Woodland and be down 10-5, and for them to come back and then sweep Ridgefield, that is just a testament to their mental toughness of the game 100%,” R.A. Long head coach Whitney Nailon said. “That was the best defensive game, offensive — I mean that was the best. It was incredible. What a way to end Districts.”

— The R.A. Long Lumberjills mob together to celebrate after securing the final point in a sweep over Ridgefield for third place at the district tournament and a berth to State. / Video by Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media —

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Prep Volleyball / District Reports

Comets bring home District trophy

Rose, Dunagan carry Comets to trophy town

Naselle continued its scorching path through its competition on Saturday with a three-set victory over Taholah in the 1B District IV championship match at Raymond High School. The Comets did not lose a set in the entire tournamen, and took the title tilt by scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-19.

“What a sweep. These girls continue to amaze us,” Naselle head coach Bekah Wirkkalah said. “Not losing a single set in Districts — they worked as a team, moved the ball around and stayed consistent.”

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Prep Volleyball / District Report

The Kalama volleyball team had been doggedly working toward its shot at revenge against La Center. The Chinooks dropped both of their 1A Trico League contests against the always-excellent Wildcats, but that did little to convince Kalama of anything other than its time was coming.

And when the opportunity for redemption rolled around Saturday in the 1A District IV championship match the ‘Nooks were ready to take advantage, sinking La Center in five sets at King’s Way High School in Vancouver.

But even that run to victory required Kalam to double down on its conviction after misfiring for most of a lopsided loss in the first set. After going five sets in their first contest with the Wildcats, and then winding up swept in their second league affair, the ‘Nooks had to do a quick reset to ensure it would at least be a long night on the court.

“Honestly, it was all about mental toughness,” Kalama head coach Rebecca Clark said. “That first game we got smoked.”

In the end, Kalama earned the right to take the championship trophy home the hard way, going the distance plus extra points in the third set, to claim, before claiming victory with set scores of 10-25, 25-23, 29-27, 20-25, and 15-9.

It was La Center’s first loss of the season.

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Prep Volleyball / Report

The Clatskanie volleyball team didn’t let a five hour drive slow their roll at all on Friday when they recorded back-to-back wins at Eastern Oregon University to reach the 2A OSAA State Championship round. In fact, they didn’t even need a fifth set to get there.

The Tigers opened the day with a sweep of Myrtle Point, and then re-rematched with their league foes from Portland Christian and emerged with a four-set victory.

But the mission that some said was impossible isn’t finished yet.

“We have earned ourselves a trip to the championship match,” Clatskanie head coach Amanda Baker said.

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Prep Volleyball / Roundup

Mules exact revenge on Trojans in do-or-die match

For the second time in less than a week Wahkiakum and Pe Ell faced off on a stranger’s court, and this time there were larger stakes at play. The Mules dropped a league-title tiebreaker to the Trojans last weekend, but got the last laugh on Thursday with a five-set win at South Bend High School by scores of 18-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-19 and 15-13.

That victory gave Wahkiakum a state tournament berth, while simultaneously ending the Trojans’ season.

“My girls just didn’t ever say quit,” Wahkiakum head coach Kayli Hurley said. “Pe Ell is a team that doesn’t let a ball drop. They just keep giving you opportunities to make mistakes and my hitters had a really consistent night overall.”

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Prep Volleyball / Roundup

The Toutle Lake volleyball team has approached this season with a surgeon’s precision and attention to detail. And just like the doctor holding the knife at the operating table, the Fighting Ducks only allow themselves to focus on the task at hand.

After all, there’s no time to dream about tomorrow when there’s work to do today.

And that approached helped Toutle Lake secure a sweep over Toledo, Wednesday, in the 2B District IV Tournament semifinal at Adna High School. After going five sets with the Riverhawks just over two weeks ago, the Ducks took the Gateway to the Blast Zone rematch in efficient fashion by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-19.

“We know what we’re capable of but we just focus on what’s in front of us for the next week and that’s what gets us through,” Toutle Lake head coach Erika Gould said.

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Prep Volleyball / Roundup

Monarchs enter Districts as ‘dangerous seed’

NATT COURT — The Mark Morris volleyball team may have taken the long way to the 2A District IV Tournament, but that doesn’t mean the Monarchs consider themselves underdogs going forward. After sweeping Aberdeen by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-15 in a pigtail playoff game, Tuesday, at home on Natt Court, the Monarchs are as confident as they’ve been all season.

And for good reason.

“Our motto is, if we can control what happens with the touches we do, we’ll be just fine,” Mark Morris head coach Carmen Hewitt said. “Every time we’ve lost it’s been too many hitters in the negatives or too many serving errors, so we’ve just been working on consistency and keeping our side of the net clean.”

— Mark Morris celebrates after securing the final point in a sweep over Aberdeen, Tuesday, Nov. 4, in a pigtail playoff match at Natt Court. / Video by Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media —

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