HS Volleyball: Rainier Defeats Napavine 3-1 to Build Momentum Going Into Districts

10/30/24

Rainier 3, Napavine 1 (25-19, 25-15, 25-27, 25-15)

(Napavine, WA) Wednesday marked the final day of the regular season in the Central 2B League for volleyball. While the Rainier Mountaineers already had locked up their spot in the district tournament, Napavine was fighting for their playoff lives as the Tigers needed a win to earn the 7th seed in the Central 2B to move into a pigtail match on Saturday. Napavine would also honor their two seniors, Jessie McCoy and Emily Kang, before the match started.

In the opening set, Napavine got off to a fast start behind nice play from the seniors Jessie McCoy and Emily Kang. Rainier then began to chip away as a balanced attack from Janess Blackburn and Acacia Murphy at the net. Ellie Pringle went on a run from the service line to help Rainier pull ahead to 20-12. However, Napavine would not go away without a fight. The Tigers went on a run with Nicholle Valentine catching fire and MaKayla Brett doing a great job in her setter position. The late charge would fall just short however as Rainier hung on to take the first set 25-19.

Once again, Napavine got off to a nice start in the second set before Rainier pulled back out in front. Anika Plowman had a very strong second set but Allyson Ooms really took over the match for the Mountaineers. Annabelle Whiteman also got more involved for the Mountaineers while Kennedy Purvis began to get things going for the Tigers. While there was another late-stage comeback, Rainier did not allow Napavine to get too close this time as Rainier won the second set 25-15 to set themselves up for a sweep opportunity in the 3rd.

Both teams save the most exciting set for the 3rd as neither side could pull away early as the teams traded short runs. It would be the setters really taking the spotlight as Brooklyn Swenson was tremendous in the third set but Emily Kang and Lillian Blair were just as strong on the back line for Napavine. Kendall Kelly and Jessie McCoy were sensational at the net as the student section willed on the Tigers down the stretch. After being down to match point at 24-23, Napavine fought back to win the set 27-25 and force a fourth set.

It was all Rainier in the fourth set as Acacia Murphy dominated at the net. Janess Blackburn was also rolling for Rainier but Napavine did have another late charge in them. However, Katelyn Eckroth finished the job for Rainier from the service line. She served the final five points with a couple of aces including one for the final point of the match. Rainier would take the final set 25-15 to win the match over Napavine 3-1.

Our Thorbeckes MVP of the match was Katelyn Eckroth due to her strong final stretch at the service line with also strong back line play down the stretch.

The win helps Rainier finish the regular season at 14-3 and 6-2 in league play. The Mountaineers will begin the District Tournament on Saturday in Adna against Raymond-South Bend at 2:30pm. Napavine finishes their season at 6-10 and 2-6 in league play as their season comes to an end.

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