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.
2A State Tournament
Saturday, November 16 Day 2
6:15 pm, State Championship Match
Crt 3 (3) Columbia River 3, (1) Ellensburg 2 (25-19, 23-25, 13-25, 26-24, 15-8)
What seemed unlikely turned out to be undeniable for senior Sydney Dreves and her Columbia River teammates.
The Rapids made up for a lack of experience with a lot of heart to capture a fourth consecutive 2A state volleyball championship Saturday at the Yakima Valley SunDome, coming from behind to beat top-seeded Ellensburg in five sets (25-19, 23-25, 13-25, 26-24, 15-8).
With a little advice from older sister Lauren, now a freshman at Auburn University, Dreves decided to dream big – even if a four-peat seemed improbable after heavy graduation losses.
“She just told me to go all out,” Sydney said of the call she received before the match. “Last year, that senior class just really went out with a bang. She just told me, ‘Go do it again. Go do your thing, because River’s really hard to stop, so just go do your thing.’ She was just ecstatic.”
One of Dreves’ things is crushing kills and she did plenty of that in the final, amassing 30 of them enroute to her MVP selection. The Boise State signee misfired at times – notably in the second and third sets. But when River needed her most, she delivered.
And now she’s a four-time champion.
“That is so rare,” coach Breanne Smedley said. “I don’t know if I can put it into words. She has owned every moment that she has experienced here.”
Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
ESN Postgame Show
Ellensburg go up 2-1
Columbia River with a critical 4th set OT win
Columbia River wins their 4th straight Championship
Semifinals (Winner to Championship, Loser to 3rd-place game)
Ct 1 (3) Columbia River 3, (2) Burlington-Edison 1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21)
Ct 2 (1) Ellensburg 3, (4) Archbishop Murphy 0 (25-19, 25-10, 26-24)
Semifinal Round Recap
A fourth straight rematch. A fourth straight result.
Columbia River revels in it. Burlington-Edison, well, not so much.
The No. 3 Rapids earned the right to play for a fourth consecutive championship at No. 2 B-E’s expense once again, 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21). It was a heavyweight battle between two deserving finalists.
Senior Sydney Dreves made sure it went CR’s way again, amassing 20 kills to go along with two blocks and an ace.
The Rapids square off against No. 1 Ellensburg at 6:15 Saturday looking to become the first four-peat team in Class 2A history. They own five titles overall, the first coming in 2000.
Ellensburg held off No. 4 Archbishop Murphy in the other semifinal, 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 26-24). The Bulldogs won their lone tilte back in 1988 but have five runner-up finishes, most recently in 2019. They placed fifth last season.
Burlington-Edison has one of the state’s richest volleyball histories with six championships but were seeking their first since 2017.
The Tigers started strong and had a set point in the opener – but Avery Seley’s diving dig gave the Rapids new life and they wound up on top. Dreves, headed to Boise State, delivered 12 kills in the set.
Lexie Mason pulled B-E back in the second set with seven of her match-high 27 kills. The Tigers tried to rally in each of the final two sets, but fell short.
They face Archbishop Murphy in the match to decide third and fourth places at 2:30. It will be the school’s fifth consecutive top-four showing.
Ellensburg punched its ticket behind the play of MVP Hazel Murphy, a Gonzaga signee.
Murphy, a 6-1 outside hitter, started the match with an ace and ended it with back-to-back kills.
Archbishop Murphy was overpowered in the first two sets, but had a four-point lead in the third behind the play of Tatum Gill, Teulia Halalilo and Audrey Russell. But the Bulldogs rallied to close it out.
The Wildcats were in the semis for just the third time and first since 2016, when they lost to eventual-champion Tumwater. They bounced back to place third that season and have the same opportunity.
2:30 pm Trophy Round
Crt 4 3rd/4th Place – (2) Burlington-Edison 3, (4) Archbishop Murphy 1 (25-14, 22=25, 25-21, 25-23)
Crt 2 5th/6th Place – (9) Pullman 3, (11) Ridgefield 1 (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 26-24)
Crt 1 7th/8th Place – (10) Chief Sealth 3, (13) Toppenish 2 (23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12)
Trophy Round Recap
The lengthy drought is over for both Toppenish and Chief Sealth.
It had been 30 years since Sealth took home a volleyball trophy. And a 31-year wait for Toppenish.
So, in the big picture, both came up winners Saturday afternoon.
As for specifics, No. 10 Sealth beat No.13 Toppenish, 3-2, to earn the higher, seventh-place hardware. Set scores were 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12. The Wildcats finished eighth.
Toppenish, 0-2 here a year ago, last trophied in 1993, taking third. The Wildcats were also third in 1986.
Chief Sealth placed eighth back in 1994. The school’s only other bling came in 1992 (third) and 1973 (fourth).
Toppenish opened up a 2-1 lead and tinkered with ending it in four. But a big block by junior Triana Tuia gave the Seahawks a 24-23 lead and Allison Ohta’s ace forced the fifth set.
The Wildcats led 11-10 in the fifth before Chief Sealth finished with a 5-2 flurry as sophomore Nia Long delivered the final two kills. The MVP wound up with 15 kills, while Charlotte Lindow handed out 18 assists. Toppenish featured a balanced attack led by Anika Palomarez-Ramos (11 kills) and Kyra Hurley (nine kills). Naylanee Strom-Torres piled up 27 assists.
Fifth place went to No 9 Pullman, which won a tight match with No. 11 Ridgefield, 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 26-24).
Jasmyne Washington was stellar, coming away with MVP honors, and fellow junior Rowyn Lee came up with some big kills down the stretch.
Pullman, which has just two seniors on its roster, took a step up after taking sixth last year. The Greyhounds, with three titles on their resume, were fourth in 2022.
Ridgefield takes sixth this time around. The Spudders are accustomed to bigger prizes – they own six crowns (most recently in 2019 and ’18) and took second to Columbia River in each of the past three tournaments. It’s their ninth straight trophy.
Burlington-Edison bounced back from a tough semifinal loss to Columbia River to earn third place. The No. 2 Tigers had their hands full again with No. 4 Archbishop Murphy, especially in the final three sets, but prevailed 3-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23).
Mia Whitlock and Lexie Mason, B-E’s lone two seniors, fittingly shared the final MVP award.
Archbishop Murphy, which fell to No. 1 Ellensburg in the semis, wound up fourth – the school’s first state volleyball trophy since 2016 (third place).
This was the fifth consecutive top-four finish for Burlington. The Tigers also took third in 2022 and were fourth the other years.
Consolation (Loser Out)
Ct 4 No. (10) Chief Sealth 3, (11) Nathan Hale 0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-19)
Ct 5 No. (13) Toppenish 3, (8) Washington 0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-19)
Consolation (Loser Out)
Ct 4 (11) Ridgefield 3, vs. (7) Tumwater 2 (25-19, 24-25, 20-25, 25-21, 16-14)
Ct 5 (9) Pullman 3, (5) Bainbridge 1 (25-13, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16)
Consolation Round Recap
Give those final Metro League bragging rights to Chief Sealth.
Along with a state trophy.
The No. 10 Seahawks eliminated No. 11 Nathan Hale Saturday morning, 3-1 (25-12, 25-23, 25-12). It was their fifth meeting of the season. After Hale beat Sealth for the Metro championship, Sealth turned the tables in the District 2 title match to even the series 2-2 (they split their two regular-season bouts).
Sophomore Violet Lindow was match MVP.
Chief Sealth plays No. 13 Toppenish to determine seventh and eighth places at 2:30. It’s the school’s first state volleyball trophy since 1994 (eighth in 3A).
Toppenish knocked out No. 8 Washington in three tight sets (25-20, 25-20, 27-25) as sophomore Riley Carter delivered the winning kill. Senior Tatiana Camacho was solid throughout to earn MVP honors.
The Wildcats went home in two at last year’s tournament and last left with a trophy (third) in 1993.
Storied Ridgefield didn’t make it back to the championship match for a sixth straight season, but the No. 11 Spudders will bring back another trophy.
They play No. 9 Pullman for fifth and sixth places at 2:30 after taking down Tumwater in an epic five-set marathon (25-19, 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 16-14).
Ridgefield won back-to-back titles in 2018 and ’19, then lost in the final the past three years to Columbia River.
Sophomore setter Akyah Stevens was tabbed MVP in this one.
It’s a familiar spot for Pullman, which took sixth a season ago. The Greyhounds, who won it all in 2009 and 2010, eliminated No. 5 Bainbridge to clinch another trophy. Junior Jasmyne Washington was chosen MVP.
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2A State Tournament
Friday, November 15 Day 1
Opening Round (Winners to Quarterfinals, Losers to Consolation)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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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