11/15/2024
By Sandy Ringer
(Yakima, WA) The Yakima SunDome was again the setting for the 1A State Volleyball Tournament. Everyone wants to know if anyone else can be invited to the big match other than Columbia River and Ridgefield? Those 2 programs have won the last 5 State titles with the Columbia River Rapids winning the last 3 and Ridgefield in 2018 and 2019.
But since 2021, the final pairing has been Columbia River vs Ridgefield literally not allowing any other team, league or district to participate in a volleyball State Championship game since Ridgefield defeated Ellensburg in 2019. This story will cover all 26 matches.
1A State Tournament
Friday, November 15 Day 1
Opening Round (Winners to Quarterfinals, Losers to Consolation)
9 am
Crt 1 (6) Ridgefield 3, (11) Nathan Hale 0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-17)
Crt 2 (3) Columbia River 3, (14) Orting 0 (25-8, 25-20, 25-12)
Crt 3 (7) Tumwater 3, Chief Sealth 0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-20)
Crt 4 (2) Burlington-Edison 3, (15) Sultan 0 (25-9, 25-11, 25-14)
Crt 5 (5) Bainbridge 3, (12) North Kitsap 0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-12)
10:45 am
Crt 1 (4) Archbishop Murphy 3, (13) Toppenish 0 (25-14, 25, 15, 25-21)
Crt 2 (9) Pullman 3, (8) Washington 0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-15)
Crt 3 (1) Ellensburg 3, (16) Mark Morris 0 (25-5, 25-8, 25-12)
Opening Round Recap
Columbia River, the three-time defending champion, cruised into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 sweep of No. 14 Orting – although the third-seeded River Rapids had to erase a 12-5 deficit in the second set. Sydney Dreves, a 5-11 outside hitter headed to Boise State, was the catalyst as usual and earned match MVP honors.
All eight first-round matches, in fact, were decided in three.
No. 1 Ellensburg made its case for a return to the top of the podium for only the second time. The Bulldogs, who won it all in1988, allowed No. 16 Mark Morris a meager total of 25 points (12 of those coming in the third). Gonzaga-bound Hazel Murphy, a 6-1 OH, was picked MVP.
No. 2 Burlington-Edison, which placed fourth a year ago, made quick work of No. 15 Sultan. MVP status went to senior Lexie Mason.
Senior Tatum Gill delivered eight kills and five aces to key No. 4 Archbishop Murphy’s win over No. 13 Toppenish, which was led by Anika Palomarez-Ramos (eight kills).
Heavy-hitting Holley McFadden, a handful at 6-4, helped No. 5 Bainbridge race past No. 12 North Kitsap. McFadden has committed to Loyola Marymount. It was the Spartans’ third win of the season over their Olympic League rivals.
Sophomore Paige Hanes, a 5-9 OH, powered No. 6 Ridgefield past No. 11 Nathan Hale, pounding a dozen kills and adding an ace to get the nod at MVP.
No. 7 Tumwater moved into the quarterfinals again by taking down No. 10 Chief Sealth. Junior MB Pagie Henderson was chosen MVP for her steady all-around play. Senior McKayla Clary was key in the opening set with strong serving.
It’s hard to label it an upset, but it was the only match where the lower seed prevailed as No. 9 Pullman defeated No. 8 Washington. Junior Jasmyne Washington was a force for the Greyhounds as MVP, with help at the net from Ella Forster and Rowyn Lee.
So, the 4:15 quarterfinals are set, headlined by the 4-5 showdown between Archbishop Murphy and Bainbridge. The other pairings are Ridgefield vs. Columbia River, Tumwater vs. Burlington-Edison and Pullman vs. Ellensburg.
Consolation Round (Loser Out)
Consolation Round (Loser Out)
2:30 pm
Crt 3 (11) Nathan Hale 3, (14) Orting 2 (23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-8, 15-13)
Crt 4 (10) Chief Sealth 3, (15) Sultan 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-18)
Crt 5 (13) Toppenish 3, (12) North Kitsap 0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-19)
4:15 pm
Crt 1 (8) Washington 3, (16) Mark Morris 2 (22-25, 27-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-8)
Consolation Round Recap
Nearby Toppenish sent fans home happy, living to play another day after a disappointing loss in the opening round.
The 13th-seeded Wildcats eliminated No. 12 North Kitsap, 3-0 to keep their trophy aspirations alive. A win against No. 8 Washington Saturday at 9 a.m. would put them in the match to decide seventh and eighth places.
Senior Tatiana Camacho was chosen MVP for her all-around efforts.
Washington survived a hard-fought, five-set marathon against No. 16 Mark Morris to earn a return trip to the SunDome Saturday. Junior Amiah Lowe smacked four kills in the final set to help the Patriots close out the victory.
Sophomore Nia Long stood out as MVP as No. 10 Chief Sealth got back on track with a 3-0 win over No. 14 Orting. The Seahawks now face No. 11 Nathan Hale, their Metro League rival, in another knockout match at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The Raiders had a tougher time getting there, going five sets with No. 14 Orting. They trailed 2-1 after dropping a tight third set, 25-23. Hale heated up in the fourth, racing to a 10-3 advantage enroute to a 25-8 victory that knotted the bout.
Orting put together a late push in the fifth, but the Raiders quashed the rally, 15-13. Junior libero Sachi Jones was everywhere to attract MVP attention.
Chief Sealth beat Nathan Hale 3-0 in the title match of the District 2 tournament. But Hale had prevailed 3-1 in a playoff contest a week earlier. The two split regular-season matches as well, so this fifth meeting is for final bragging rights – in addition to state hardware.
Quarterfinals (Winners to Semifinals, Losers to Consolation)
4:15 pm
Crt 2 (3) Columbia River 3, (11) Ridgefield 1 (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18)
Crt 3 (2) Burlington-Edison 3, (7) Tumwater 0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-14)
Crt 4 (4) Archbishop Murphy 3, (5) Bainbridge 1 (24-26, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23)
Crt 5 (1) Ellensburg 3, (9) Pullman 0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-14)
Quarterfinal Round Recap
Don’t poke the Bulldogs.
At least not these top-seeded Ellensburg Bulldogs.
No. 9 Pullman put the pressure on the tourney favorites in the opening set before being subdued, 27-25.
Ellensburg said enough, easing through the next two sets (25-16, 25-14) to reach the semifinals. Junior Hayden Thomas led the charge, resulting in MVP notice.
The Bulldogs face No. 4 Archbishop Murphy Saturday at 9 a.m.
The Wildcats worked their way past No. 5 Bainbridge to push forward, but needed four sets to do it and all but one were close (24-26, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23).
Tatum Gill, the senior PIN, once again stood out in the MVP selections.
No. 2 Burlington-Edison goes against No. 3 Columbia River in the other semi, also set for 9 a.m.
Those winners meet in the championship match at 6:15 p.m.
B-E streaked past No. 7 Tumwater with relative ease (25-10, 25-12, 25-14) with seniors Mia Whitlock and Lexie Mason doing most of the damage at the net. Whitlock also served tough, which brought her the MVP tag.
River had a rougher time against No. 11 Ridgefield, needing four tight sets to move on (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18). The Spudders stepped up in the third thanks mainly to the play of Paige Hanes and Callie Curran.
But in the end MVP Sydney Dreves was the difference for the Rapids.
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