Hoquiam was pushed to the limit Wednesday before maintaining its recent volleyball dominance over Aberdeen.
Seizing the momentum late in the fourth set and maintaining it through the fifth, the Grizzlies rallied past the inspired Bobcats, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 15-7, in a non-league match-up of Trans-Myrtle Street rivals at Sam Benn Gym.
This triumph came far from easily for the Grizzlies (2-2). With the underdog Bobcats (0-3) playing very well defensively and capitalizing on HHS errors, Hoquiam didn’t even take its first lead of the match until midway through the second set.
Backed by a large and raucous home crowd, the Bobcats went on a concluding 5-1 run to take the third set and stood six points from the match when Haley Farrer powered a hit through an attempted Hoquiam block to forge a 19-all tie in the fourth stanza.
Following two Bobcat errors, Hoquiam’s Mercedes Pinnell concluded a long rally with a kill to give the Grizzlies a 22-19 edge. Pinnell also converted a Paige Folkers set to close out the stanza.
Hoquiam’s Karlie Krohn served the opening four points of the fifth set — the final two on aces. Missing three serves in the set, the Bobcats never seriously challenged.
After Kamimi Papp’s kill gave the Grizzlies match point, an Aberdeen hitting error ended the contest.
Overhitting the majority of their kill attempts and guilty of several communication breakdowns early on, the Grizzlies sacrificed power for control in the final two sets.
“We didn’t communicate,” HHS coach Heather Bozich affirmed. “We came out flat, we came out quiet and it took Aberdeen playing extremely well to push us. We made a couple of adjustments and we started playing smarter instead of trying to pound the ball.”
Krohn, whose serve was a weapon throughout, delivered five aces and brought up 27 digs. Papp settled down after a slow start to deliver a team-high 10 kills.
Grizzly libero Ashley Paladin contributed 26 digs, while sophomore setter Kacey Pelan had 14 assists.
Bobcat coach Doug Basler had few complaints about his team’s showing.
“I think the energy in the room helped,” he said. “We made some mental mistakes in the final game (but) that’s the best full match we’ve had in a couple of years.”
Aberdeen senior Jillian Swor had a fine all-around performance, putting all 23 of her serves into play and playing exceptionally well in the back row. Farrer led Bobcat hitters with 11 kills, while sophomore Anna Arquette contributed nine kills and four blocks.
Bobcat setters Haley Raines and Adrianna Roberts had 10 assists apiece, with the latter cited for her reserve play.
Aberdeen captured the JV contest, 25-19, 25-17.
The Grizzlies will make their annual appearance in Yakima’s SunDome Festival on Friday. The Bobcats will be idle until Sept. 22, when they entertain Elma.
