HS Volleyball: Curtis Continues Great Start To Season With Win Over Emerald Ridge

10/4/24

Curtis 3, Emerald Ridge 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-13)

(University Place, WA) The Curtis Vikings through their first six matches have lost a total of two sets, both of which came in a five set match against Puyallup. The Emerald Ridge Jaguars came into the match with a strong 5-2 record, and their only two losses came to Curtis and Camas who are the top two teams in the latest RPI rankings.

In the first set, Curtis jumped out to a 4-1 lead with the help of Avery Cukjati who got a kill for the Vikings to give them an early three point lead. Emerald Ridge pulled closer with Addison Barrett earning an ace for the Jaguars but Curtis still maintained the lead. The teams traded points for the majority of the first set with neither team being able to earn more than back-to-back points. Curtis was able to go on a curcial 4-0 run to go up 19-13 as Selana Morales helped the Vikings extend their lead to the biggest lead of the night. Curtis closed out the first set while trading points with Emerald Ridge to give the Vikings a 25-17 win in the first set.

In the second set, Curtis again jumped out to a 4-1 lead, with Peyton Ensign and Ariana Medchill each earning back-to-back kills to help the Vikings get off to a good start in the second set. Curtis jumped out to an 8-3 lead as Selana Morales had a block to give the Vikings the five point advantage. The Curtis lead was as big as 12-6 with Avery Cukjati getting another kill for the Vikings. Emerald Ridge pulled to within four points at 13-9 after a phenomenal rally and Dani Gogo getting a kill. Curtis opened up a 19-12 lead with Ariana Medchill getting a pair of kills and Avery Cukjati getting a kill also for the Vikings. Curtis closed out the second set with back-to-back aces from Kate Harris to win the second set 25-13 and to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third set, Emerald Ridge got off to a great start, winning three of the first four points and Addison Barrett got an ace to give the Jaguars a 3-1 advantage. Curtis tied it up at three, it was tied again at four with Korbyn Hansen getting a kill, and tied once again at six. Curtis went on a 6-0 run to gain a 12-6 lead with Mia Nelson getting a block and Kate Harris getting a kill during the run for the Vikings. Later in the set, Ariana Medchill would get a kill, Peyton Ensign would earn a kill, and Lucy McNaighton would get an ace in three straight points to give Curtis a 15-7 lead. The Vikings lead went up to 20-9 as Kayla Baker had a block and Asia Williams would get an ace and force Emerald Ridge to call their second and final timeout of the set. Curtis and Emerald Ridge traded points until the finish where the Vikings would win the final set 25-13 and earn the sweep on their home floor.

Our elisportsnetwork.com Match MVP went to Curtis’s Avery Cukjati, who seemed to be in the right place at the right time everytime Curtis needed a clutch point. Cukjati is one of four seniors on the Vikings squad and all four of those seniors had a hand in the win.

Curtis improves to 7-0 on the year and 4-0 in SPSL play and will take on Bonney Lake next Tuesday on the road. Emerald Ridge drops to 5-3 on the season and 3-1 in SPSL play and will host Olympia in an important match, as the Bears are 4-0 in the SPSL.

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