CASTLE ROCK — Riding the momentum from taking a tense third set, La Center figuratively and literally blocked Montesano’s bid for a district volleyball championship.
The Trico League champion Wildcats outlasted the previously unbeaten Bulldogs, 25-19, 23-25, 27-25, 25-13, to win the District IV Class 1A Tournament on Saturday at Castle Rock.
La Center (16-2) maintained the Trico League’s stranglehold on this tournament’s hardware. Montesano’s 2006 championship remains the only northern division district title since the current 1A classification was structured.
Already assured of a repeat trip to state, the Bulldogs (16-1) will join the Wildcats and Castle Rock in representing the district at the state 1A tourney beginning Friday at the Yakima SunDome.
After eliminating Elma, 25-14, 25-12, 25-12, earlier in the day, Castle Rock downed Trico League rival King’s Way Christian in four sets (25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19) to claim the tourney’s third and final state berth.
Wildcats 3, Bulldogs 1
Both teams performed at a high level for the first three sets, with far more points decided on winners than errors.
If the Wildcats had an edge, it was in the ability of their front-row performers (particularly Maddie Stimmel and Laynie Erickson) to neutralize Montesano’s power with frequent stuff blocks.
Even so, Monte coach Debbie Gibson was among those who believe the outcome was decided in a back-and-forth third set.
After trailing 19-18, the Bulldogs took the lead by reeling off four straight points — including a pair of Jordan Spradlin kills and a third by Josie Toyra.
They were two points from a 2-1 lead in sets, at 23-21, when Spradlin delivered a spike that landed just inside the baseline.
La Center countered with the next three points, two on Erickson kills, to go up 24-23.
Monte’s Janessa Otterstetter saved one set point by digging up a Wildcat hit and eventually ending the point with a kill. It was 25-25 moments later after Spradlin followed a Monte double-hit violation by by putting away a Hannah Hatcher set.
But La Center’s Stimmel answered with a kill and then blocked a Bulldog tip to finally close out the set.
The wind visibly taken out of their sails, the Bulldogs fell into a 5-1 hole opening the fourth set and never gained traction.
At that, they staved off five match points before Erickson finally ended it with a kill.
“That was kind of a turning point for them and it deflated us,” Gibson said of the third set. “That’s volleyball, when someone takes the momentum from you, it’s tough to recover.”
Spradlin was her usual productive self at the net, finishing with 34 kills and three solo blocks. Shayla Floch added 11 kills and Hatcher 34 assists.
The reliable Toyra was 19-of-19 from the service line and contributed 13 digs. Libero Josie Talley brought up 15 digs.
“All in all, I’m proud of them,” Gibson said. “We’ve got three practices to regroup and we’ll see what happens when they get over to state.”
Rockets 3, Eagles 0
Needing two victories Saturday to earn its first-ever state volleyball berth, Elma (7-10) never got untracked against a power-hitting Castle Rock squad that dominated the net and scored numerous quick points off serve.
“They didn’t have much communication at all,” Eagle coach Kendra Henry said of her team.
Elma’s highlight came late in the first set, when freshman Kali Rambo served five consecutive aces and classmate Quin Mikel followed with a kill. It was telling, however, that the Eagles still faced a 16-10 deficit even after that spurt. The Rockets regained the serve and quickly closed out the set.
Castle Rock’s Logann Golden served 14 consecutive points to erase a 7-4 Elma lead in the second set. Golden also served the opening seven points of the third set.
The Eagles had the satisfaction of advancing to the final day of district for the first time in recent memory. They graduate only two seniors, Kaylee Rambo and Ana Perez.
“I’m very proud of this team,” first-year coach Henry said. “Obviously, it was a tough way to end the season, but we’re going to remember this feeling, work hard in the offseason and be ready for the next season.”
