Prep Volleyball Roundup: Defense leads the way for Kelso against Skyview
Official View: Toutle Lake student section ejected en masse
Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
Hilanders continue to gel in win over 4A Storm
Attention to detail continues to pay off for the Kelso volleyball team after a four-set victory over 4A Skyview by scores of 25-23, 25-15, 23-25 and 25-14, Tuesday, at home on K-Court.
That victory came just two weeks after the Hilanders were swept on the road by the same Storm team in another non-league contest.
“(We’ve had) lots of growth from the past tournament,” Kelso coach Michelle Mury said.
One area where that micro focus was evident was in Kelso’s serving effort. The Hilanders finished with a 98% success rate on their serves, including error free efforts from Izzy Moe, Halle Johnson and Addie Hislop. All three of those players also notched a pair of aces in the win.
Mury dubbed Moe the most impactful of the game thanks to her 16 digs, nine service points and general commitment to passing and defense.
On offense, Royal Grafton led Kelso with 11 kills to go with 17 digs, while Josie McNew turned in 10 kills and 22 digs. Sheena McGregor added seven kills in the win, with Johnson dishing out 22 assists and Hislop adding 14 helpers.
Kelso (2-2) will host Tumwater on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Monarchs, Cole, bonk Bay in four
A quick 24-hours after falling in five sets in a non-league contest on the road, the Monarchs were singing a different tune on the bus ride home following a four-set win at Hudson’s Bay. The Mark Morris volleyball team took the 2A Greater St. Helens League contest by scores of 25-20, 25-11, 23-25 and 25-7.
With a two-set lead in hand early, the Monarchs struggled with their serve in the third frame before landing a decisive knockout in the fourth stanza.
“We had to grind it out after an exhausting match at Kalama, but in the end we got it done,” Mark Morris coach Carmen Hewitt said.
Zoey Cole led MM with a team-high 27 assists and 11 aces to go with six kills. Aliyah Yaple provided power at the net with 12 kills. Analiz Birrueta posted a team-high 14 digs to go with five aces, while Lexi Gunter turned in nine digs with four aces.
“Analiz was always there for the dump, and also played great coverage,” Hewitt said. “Lexi had an amazing serve receive night. Aliyah Yaple connected well tonight to lead us in kills. She is a consistent leader on the court.
Aela McNeilly added eight kills and Mackenzie Henthorn chipped in six to help get the Monarchs over the hump.
“Mackenzie Henthorn had her best match of the season,” Hewitt said. “She was consistent in defensive coverage and pure hustle. She kept us in many sets.”
Mark Morris (3-4, 2-2 league) will host Washougal at Ted M. Natt Court on Thursday at 7 p.m.
False start sinks Jills at Columbia River
The R.A. Long volleyball team left their A-game on the bus, Tuesday, in a three-set sweep at Columbia River. The Lumberjills lost the 2A GSHL contest by scores of 25-9, 25-15 and 25-11.
“We struggled to get consistency with all of the pieces,” R.A. Long coach Whitney Nailon said.
Macy Graichen led the Jills with five kills and two digs. Lyla Khlee handed out five assists and tallied a kill in the loss, while Rowan Ward added five digs and led R.A. Long’s serve-receive defense.
“We are looking forward to getting back to competing on Thursday,” Nailon said.
R.A. Long (2-4, 1-4 league) will host Woodland at The Lumberdome on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Chinooks clipped at Seton Catholic
Much to Kalama’s chagrin, the 1A Trico League continues to live up to its reputation. The most recent confirmation came Tuesday when the Chinooks fell in four sets of volleyball action at Seton Catholic by scores of 25-17, 26-25, 16-25 and 25-20.
Emily Capen led Kalama with a dozen kills and a team-high 30 digs. Likewise, Taylor Hoggatt continued to get after it on the defensive side for the ‘Nooks with 26 digs and a 2.3 score on her serve-receive work.
Kalama’s Jacey Hutchinson handed out 21 assists to go with two aces, while Ady Devenport tallied 18 digs to go with four kills and Hiley Lawson landed four aces.
Kalama (3-3, 0-3 league) will search for its first league win on Thursday when it hosts Fort Vancouver at 7 p.m.
Fighting Ducks fans tossed in loss to Mounties
The entire Toutle Lake student section was ejected from the gymnasium, Tuesday, toward the tail end of the Fighting Ducks’ four-set loss at home to Rainier (WA). The Ducks dropped the Central 2B League contest by scores of 25-17, 25-27, 25-22 and 25-21, and were left wondering what in the heck happened after the mass eviction of their most ardent fans.
According to spectators at the gym, the Mountaineers began to complain about fan noise following a loss in extra points in the second set. Rainier argued that the Toutle Lake student section was calling players out by number during their serve and argued that it warranted unsportsmanlike behavior.
Toutle Lake athletic director Chris Byrd stepped in upon request and asked the students, who were all decked out in neon as a group, to refrain from cheering or invoking specific players during the Mounties’ serves. That request was met with a round of loud “shushing” from the home crowd during the ensuing action, which seemed to satisfy the game official and visiting coaches, at least momentarily.
Late in the fourth set the school spirit again became too much for the Mounties to bear and another complaint was lodged with the lead official. After some discussion, the game official ordered each and every one of the Toutle Lake students to exit the arena before play could continue.
That decision left everyone from fans with ASB cards to grandmas in the crowd disappointed. As for Toutle Lake coach Erika Gould, it simply left her baffled.
“Imagine if you were shooting foul shots, it’s the same thing,” Gould said.
As for the actual contest, Toutle Lake saw Layni Dean turn in 12 kills while playing through an illness, with Jillian Eytcheson dishing out a dozen assists. Kendall Dean added seven kills, with 10 assists, five digs and a perfect serving mark on 15 attempts, and Karly Opsahl tallied six digs.
“We just made some really young errors in the end of some of those games,” Gould said. “But they never stopped attacking the ball, which is good. We just need to finish.”
Nearly a month into her first year as head coach of the Fighting Ducks, Gould has been impressed with the energy in the gym for home games and she hopes Tuesday’s episode won’t diminish the school spirit that seems to be taking hold in East Cowlitz County.
“I’m so impressed with the turnout for volleyball in our gym,” Gould said. “I’m so thankful that a lot of the same faces that I grew up with are still there. The community support has been awesome.”
Toutle Lake (3-2) will play at Adna on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Mules rebound quick to sweep Pe Ell
Coming off its first loss of the season Wahkiakum defeated Pe Ell in straight sets, Tuesday, by scores of 27-25, 25-21 and 25-19 in 1B volleyball play.
“Sam Delacruz had an amazing setting game running the floor,” Wahkiakum coach Kayli Hurley said. “Jessie Lafever, Evy Hogue and Carra Tawater played solid defense.”
Hurley noted that the Trojans are a good rallying team that prides itself in keeping the ball off the floor. That approach made Pe Ell a pesky foe and forced the Mules to overcome large deficits on multiple occasions, including a gap of more than 10 points in the first set.
“Reese Long had a strong offensive game from the right side which made a difference for us tonight,” Hurley noted.
Wahkiakum (5-1) will host Naselle on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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