2A Prep Volleyball: R.A. Long bumps Mark Morris out of third place

Civil War: Eib makes the difference in Lumberjills’ comeback

R.A. Long’s Ella Eibe sends the ball back over the net during a four-set win at Mark Morris, Thursday, Oct. 24. Eibe was isntrumental in the Lumberjills’ comeback victory. — Photos courtesy of Skyler Smith / Framed Photography

Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

With condolences to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, it’s not always the first shot of a war that’s the most consequential. It’s all the volleys back and forth in the middle, the ones where everyone’s waist deep in the big muddy and that tend to be hardest to remember, those are the shots that turn the tide one way or the other.

For R.A. Long volleyball the road to redemption and victory in Round II of this season’s regular season Civil War began in the middle of a loss in the opening set. But as so many armchair generals have noted over the years, it’s not so much about the battles you lose, but rather the wars you win.

After dropping the first matchup between Longview’s two schools earlier this season, R.A. Long took matters into its own hands with a four-set win at Mark Morris on Thursday. The Lumberjills dropped the first set but took the pivotal 2A Greater St. Helens League matchup by scores of 21-25, 25-20, 25-15 and 25-21.