Aberdeen broke a Myrtle Street Rivalry losing streak that dated back five years as we take a look at Tuesday’s prep volleyball games involving Twin Harbors teams.

PREP VOLLEYBALL

Aberdeen 3, Hoquiam 2

For the better part of the past half-decade, the volleyball version of the Myrtle Street Rivalry has been one-sided.

After the most recent iteration was played out on Tuesday night, that’s not the case anymore.

Aberdeen snapped a four-game losing streak to the Hoquiam Grizzlies with a thrilling five-set victory on Tuesday at Aberdeen High School.

Both teams scrapped for every point throughout the back-and-forth match set in a Sam Benn Gymnasium that had the atmosphere of a playoff game rather than an early season non-league contest.

The two teams played close through the first 25 points of Game 1 before a service streak from senior Kristina Goulet gave the Grizzlies a 21-13 lead.

Hoquiam (2-2) would close out the set with a Faith Prosch kill followed by two Aberdeen shots falling off the mark for a 25-15 win.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Hoquiam’s Sydney Gordon (13) and Kristina Goulet (2) defend a shot by Aberdeen’s Savannah Stricklan during the Bobcats’ 3-2 win on Tuesday in Aberdeen.

In the second game, it was Aberdeen (3-0) that took an early 7-2 lead after a pair of aces from junior middle blocker Lilly Camp followed by a kill from senior Annika Hollingsworth.

Trailing by five points at 13-9, Hoquiam mounted a comeback, crawling to within a point on two separate occasions, but Aberdeen responded with five straight points bolstered by two aces from sophomore Alyssa Yakovich and a kill from outside hitter Savanah Stricklan.

Hoquiam got as close as 22-18 on an Aberdeen service error, but the Bobcats closed out the set on a Yakovich ace followed by a Hoquiam shot out of bounds for a 25-18 victory.

In the third game, Hoquiam jumped out to an early 7-1 lead by riding the wave of a Zoe Vessey service streak, but saw the Bobcats slowly creep their way back into the game.

Aberdeen cut the lead to within a point at 12-11 on a Stricklan kill through a block, but Hoquiam answered with a 5-1 run, taking a 17-12 lead on an illegal touch call.

But unlike previous Aberdeen teams, these Bobcats didn’t fold when the pressure ramped up. Aberdeen rallied to tie the game at 19-all and took a 20-19 lead – its first of the game – on a kill from senior setter Claire Mottinger.

Hoquiam took a 24-23 lead on a point by junior Katlyn Broadhead, but the Grizzlies failed to finish off the set as Aberdeen middle blocker Alviyah Lamont tied the game with a kill.

The Bobcats closed out the set on two consecutive kills by Hollingsworth to win by a score of 26-24 as a loud roar emerged from the Aberdeen faithful.

Hoquiam again jumped out to an early lead, taking a 7-2 advantage in Game 4 before Aberdeen rallied to tie at 7-7.

The two teams would not be separated by more than three points until Hoquiam scored four straight off the jump serve of Broadhead, taking a 21-14 lead.

Hoquiam staved off a late Aberdeen rally to win the game 25-18 and force a fifth and final set.

Like it was throughout the game, the final set was close. Neither team earned more than a two-point lead until a Stricklan kill gave the Cats a 9-6 advantage.

Aberdeen would take a 13-7 lead on a reception error and closed out the game a few points later when Camp stuffed an attempt by Goulet to push the ball over at the net, giving the Cats a 15-8 victory in the fifth set and a 3-2 win.

RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen’s Alviyah Lamont (13), Annika Hollingsworth (11), Sophie Knutson (20) and Claire Mottinger celebrate a victory in the third game of a 3-2 win over Myrtle Street rival Hoquiam on Tuesday at Sam Benn Gym in Aberdeen.

“I told these girls that we were going to fight as hard as we can and give everything we got and we did that all through five sets,” said Hollingsworth, one of the Aberdeen captains. “It just means a lot to come out and do that.”

“We’re getting back on track,” Aberdeen head coach Glanz said. “We were focusing on that mental game. Beating (Hoquiam) kind of feels like we’re turning a corner. … I think getting a couple of wins under our belt is making us a little more confident and in believing in each other and trusting each other.”

The Bobcats were led by senior setter Cameryn Micheau’s 45 assists and had three players – Camp, Hollingsworth and Stricklan – finish with double-digit kills.

Goulet and Faith Prosch finished with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, for Hoquiam with Lexi LaBounty recording 33 digs and Broadhead tallying 30 assists and four aces.

The win was just Aberdeen’s second over Hoquiam in the last 10 Myrtle Street Rivalry games dating back to 2014.

Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said the loss provided some valuable feedback on her young team with so many new faces playing significant varsity minutes for the first time in their prep careers.

“I love how we played,” she said. “I’m not upset or frustrated. I’m really proud of our girls. They battled and we knew coming in it was going to be a tough game for us. We are such a new team and are working things out right now and I love that we get to play these tough matches.”

Aberdeen will face winless W.F. West (0-4) in the Cats’ 2A Evergreen Conference opener at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Hoquiam has another tough non-league contest when it faces King’s Way Christian at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Vancouver.

Hoquiam 25 18 24 25 8 – 2

Aberdeen 15 25 26 18 15 – 3

Leading players: Hoquiam – LaBounty (28-32 serve receive, 33 digs); Prosch (16-22 serve receive, 10 kills, 11 digs); Goulet 13 kills, 8 digs, 8 blocks); Broadhead (16 digs, 6 blocks, 4 aces, 30 assists); Brook-Andrew 6 kills, 9 blocks). Aberdeen – Camp (13 kills, 3 blocks); Hollingsworth (11 kills, 2 blocks); Stricklan (12 kills); Micheau (14-15 service, 45 assists, 18 digs); Mottinger (11-13 service, 19 digs); Knutson (19 digs); A. Yakovich (20-21 service, 2 aces, 8 digs); Lamont (7 kills, 3 blocks).

Raymond-South Bend 3, Ocosta 0

Raymond-South Bend picked up a 2B Pacific League victory with a straight-set win over Ocosta on Tuesday in Westport.

The Ravens (2-1, 1-0 2B Pacific) won by scores of 25-22, 28-26 and 25-14.

Kassie Koski led RSB with 13 kills with Tressa McMullen coming off the bench to add seven kills that had an immediate impact on the game.

“Tonight was good for us in that we were able to handle times when we struggled better than we have,” RSB head coach Julie Jewell said. “Our bench was really key in our win. We relied heavily on some of our set subs and Tressa McMullen went in and provided a lift offensively. … Tressa just went in and went to work. She got a couple of kills off the bat that changed momentum and we really didn’t look back from there.”

The Ravens served at a 92% clip as a team.

Alexia Bradley led Ocosta (1-2, 0-1) with 11 kills and a perfect 12-for-12 from the service line.

“We did many things right in tonight’s game,” Ocosta head coach Erin Snider said. “Our attackers hit the ball hard. RSB dug up much of what we were hitting their way.”

RSB hosts Ilwaco while Ocosta hosts Chief Leschi on Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. start times.

Raymond-South Bend 25 28 25 – 3

Ocosta 22 26 14 – 0

Leading players: RSB – Kassie Koski (13 kills), McMullen (7 kills). Ocosta – Bradley (11 kills, 12-12 service).

Other scores

Forks 3, North Beach 0

Adna 3, Montesano 0