Lake Quinault punches state 1B volleyball ticket over Wishkah

TUMWATER — Lake Quinault shook off a rough semifinal loss to knock off rival Wishkah in five sets to clinch a state 1B volleyball berth at the District IV 1B volleyball tournament on Saturday night.

The Elks will head to next week’s state 1B tournament in Yakima after defeating the Loggerettes, 25-27, 25-15, 25-11, 16-25, 15-11, in a winner-to-state, loser-out match at Black Hills High School.

“We’re going to state,” Quinault head coach Sue Kalama said. “The girls went crazy. They are excited about going. The seniors really pushed and encouraged the team about how important this is.”

Katlyn Neeland finished with 17-for-17 serving for the Elks, with Alex Blackburn hitting five kills and Claudia Saavedra served up six aces.

In the semifinals, Lake Quinault lost to Three Rivers Christian, 25-19, 25-19, 25-11. Wishkah lost in three sets to Naselle, which defeated TRC to win the district title.

Further details from Wishkah were not reported as of press time.