11/15/2024

By Sandy Ringer

(Yakima, WA) The Yakima SunDome was again the setting for the 1A State Volleyball Tournament. Chelan was looking to continue their dominance seeing their 5th straight Championship. The target is clearly on the Mountain Goats. Who would take their swings at the reigning Champs was the question. This story will cover all 26 matches.

1A State Tournament
Friday, November 15 Day 1

Opening Round (Winners to Quarterfinals, Losers to Consolation)

10:45 am

Crt 4 (11) Bear Creek School 3, (6) Meridian 2 (25-18, 17-25, 15-25, 25-15, 15-9)

Crt 5 (3) La Center 3, (14) Zillah 0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-9)

12:45 pm

Crt 1 (7) King’s 3, (10) Bellevue Christian 0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-16)

Crt 2 (2) Cascade Christian 3, (15) Seton Catholic 0 (25-23, 25-13, 24-11)

Crt 4 (5) Cashmere 3, (12) Lakeside 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-21)

Crt 5 (4) Cedar Park Christian 3, (13) Omak 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-22)

2:30 pm

Crt 1 (9) Stevenson 3, (8) Lynden Christian 0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-23)

Crt 2  (1) Chelan 3, (16) Kalama 1 (25-17, 25-11, 25-16)

Opening Round Recap

First match, first upset.

The Bear Creek School, seeded No. 11, couldn’t be tamed against No. 6 Meridian, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 victory.

After winning the first set, then dropping the next two, the Grizzlies got going again and swept the final two decisively (25-15, 15-9) with junior MH Megan Urban taking charge to earn MVP status.

Bear Creek enjoyed a strong run in 2B from 2009-2012, earning five straight trophies (placing third in 2012) and took eighth in 1A last season.

Next up at 8 p.m. is a quarterfinal showdown with No. 3 La Center, which rolled past No. 14 Zillah, 3-0.

It’s been an MVP kind of season for La Center senior Billie Ross, a 6-foot senior who is a wall at the net. She was the Trico League MVP and co-defensive player of the year. Friday, Ross dominated to lead the Wildcats past No. 14 Zillah, earning accolades as match MVP. After dropping the first set 25-13, Zillah took an early lead in the second, but couldn’t sustain it, falling 25-17. Then it was all La Center, 25-9.

Top-seeded Chelan, the four-time defending champs, cruised into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 triumph over No. 16 Kalama (25-17, 25-11, 25-16). MVP Brynn Hughbanks, a 5-9 junior who already has committed to play beach volleyball at Florida State, crushed 15 kills and added a pair of aces.

The Mountain Goats served well throughout and play No. 9 Stevenson in an 8 p.m. quarterfinal.

Stevenson, apparently back at state for the first time since 2008, also needed just three sets to advance – but all were much closer as No. 8 Lynden Christian wouldn’t go quietly.

The Bulldogs got clutch play from MVP Olivia Faith to pull out the thriller (26-24, 27-25, 25-23). Samia Rudd was instrumental as well.

No. 2 Cascade Christian blanked No. 15 Seton Catholic, 3-0, in a battle of Cougars.

Layne Dent, a 6-2 OH who has signed with Saint Mary’s, left her mark in the match to get the MVP nod. Seton Catholic held its own in the opening set, falling just 25-23, but couldn’t keep up from there.

In the quarterfinals, the Cougars meet No. 7 King’s at 8 p.m. The Knights dispatched No. 10 Bellevue Christian in three (25-10, 25-21, 26-16). They took control late in the second set, closing with a 6-0 run.

At just 5-2, Regan Cook plays big and took the MVP tag after supplying five kills and three aces. She has signed with UC-Davis to play beach volleyball. Anika Bockheim, a 5-11 senior, punched a team-high seven kills.

No. 4 Cedar Park Christian joined the parade to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over No. 13 Omak (25-23, 25-16, 25-22). The first and last sets could have gone either way. Senior setter Hannah Nance was the MVP choice.

The Eagles will face No. 5 Cashmere at 8. The Bulldogs bounced No. 12 Lakeside into the consolation bracket, 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-21). MVP Macie Smart, just a sophomore, drew notice for her hitting and serving skills.

Consolation Round (Loser Out)

6:15 pm

Crt 1 (6) Meridian vs (14) Zillah

Crt 2 (10) Bellevue Christian vs (15) Seton Catholic

Crt 4 (12) Lakeside vs (13) Omak

Crt 5 (8) Lynden Christian vs (16) Kalama

Quarterfinals (Winners to Semifinals, Losers to Consolation)

8 pm

Crt 1 (11) Bear Creek School vs (3) La Center

Crt 2 (7) King’s vs (2) Cascade Christian

Crt 4 (5) Cashmere vs (4) Cedar Park Christian

Crt 5 (9) Stevenson vs (1) Chelan

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