Elma and Montesano opened their league seasons with victories while Ocosta won its third game in three days as we review Thursday’s high school volleyball games on the Harbor.

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PREP VOLLEYBALL

Elma 3, Rochester 2

Elma came up clutch down the stretch to beat Rochester in a five-set thriller on Thursday at Elma High School.

The Eagles (3-3 overall, 1-0 1A Evergreen) trailed 1-0 before winning sets two and three by scores of 25-20 and 25-18, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead, highlighted by a lengthy service-point streak by libero Allyson Warren in the third set.

In the fourth set, Elma trailed early and struggled to get to within three points of the Warriors (0-8, 0-1) until closing to one point at 24-23 on an ace by senior outside hitter Haydenne Bogar.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma outside hitter Haydenne Bogar serves during a five-set victory over Tenino on Thursday at Elma High School.

But a ball into the net gave Rochester the 25-23 set victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the final set, Elma got into an early 4-0 hole before clawing back to tie the set at 5-5, forcing a Rochester time out.

Elma trailed 9-6 but tied the game on a Bogar kill, a Rochester reception error, and a Bogar ace.

With the Eagles up 12-10, Rochester responded to tie the game and eventually take a 14-12 lead on an illegal touch, putting Elma one point away from a disheartening loss.

But the Eagles staved off defeat when a service went long and tied the game at 14-all when a Rochester shot went into the net.

A Warriors shot that sailed long put Elma on match point, but an Eagles reception error tied the game at 15-15.

But Rochester’s subsequent serve went into the net, putting Elma on match point for the second time.

The Eagles didn’t let the second chance slip by, ending the game when a strong serve by senior outside hitter Keira White went off the hands of a Rochester player for an ace, ending the set 17-15 and giving Elma a thrilling league victory.

“We just realized that we are not losing this game,” Bogar said. “We didn’t come this far to just lose and give up. We really pulled through and fought to win that game. We wanted to win our first league match and we did it. I’m really proud of my team.”

Bogar, who had 12 kills, four aces and some key blocks in the match, added her team’s perseverance played a role in the victory.

“We tend to give up when we get a few points down. We really proved ourselves today in not giving up and I think we impressed Coach (Natalie Windle),” she said before turning her attention to White’s game-winning ace. “I was so proud of her. It was like, ‘Thank God we won.’ I was so happy. … We’re just going to keep rolling. We’re going to keep winning and pushing further and growing as a team together.”

“Today, we were really working on playing our game and staying focused,” Windle said. “We needed to have a high level of energy, but we needed to keep our focus and I think we did a really good job of staying grounded and playing our game. They just wanted it. They worked really hard today for that.”

Windle said both the defense and offense helped to overcome some of the mistakes and unforced errors that were a problem at times during the match.

“Our defense was phenomenal. We kept that ball off the floor,” she said. “Our offense, when we swing and are aggressive at the net, we’re like a machine. It works really well for us. That was another thing we talked about too. Be aggressive at the net, swing away, play our game and be smart about where we put the ball.”

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma libero Allyson Warren (middle) celebrates with teammate Keira White during the fifth set of a 3-2 win over Rochester on Thursday in Elma.

For Windle, who is in her first year as the Eagles head coach, her attention was on what her players accomplished and what their ceiling can be this season.

“I’m really happy for them,” she said. “They worked so hard, prepared and worked on team skills a lot. … They worked for it and they got it. … Everyday we get better and everyday we are growing and it’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what happens this season.”

Elma is set to host Tenino at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Elma.

Rochester 25 20 18 25 15 – 2

Elma 22 25 25 23 17 – 3

Leading players: Elma – Manners (16-20 service, 3 aces, 26 assists, 2 kills); Witt (17-18 service, 6 kills); Warren (14-17 service, 2 aces, kill); Bogar (13-18 service, 4 aces, 12 kills); Sackrider (11-15 service, 2 aces, 9 kills); White (9-12 service, 3 aces, 3 kills); Sanders (1-2 service, ace); Kainos (8 kills); Kish (kill).

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PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano libero Bentley Warne receives a serve during a win over Tenino on Thursday at Tenino High School.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Kalia Hatton (10) makes a play at the net during a 3-0 win over Tenino on Thursday in Tenino.

Montesano 3, Tenino 0

It’s quite a luxury to have when a team isn’t at its best yet still manages a straight-set victory.

The Montesano Bulldogs had such luxury in a 3-0 win over Tenino on Thursday at Tenino High School.

The Bulldogs (6-2, 1-0 1A Evergreen) opened league play by beating the Beavers (2-4, 0-1) by scores of 25-23, 25-23 and 25-19.

“The girls did not play their best tonight but we managed to come away with the victory,” Monte head coach Cindy Wecker said. “Tenino played really good defense and it may have caught the girls a little off guard. We just had an off night. We will rebound back.”

Senior outside hitter Kalia Hatton had a double-double with 15 kills and 39 digs while senior setter Karissa Otterstetter had 20 digs and 30 assists for the Bulldogs.

Libero Bentley Warne (28 digs), and defensive specialists Liv Robinson (21 digs) and Grace Gooding (16 digs) also had double-digit digs on the evening.

Montesano hosts Hoquiam in a key 1A Evergreen League match at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Montesano 25 25 25 – 3

Tenino 23 23 19 – 0

Leading players: Montesano – Broten (8 digs); Warne (28 digs); Robinson (9-10 service, 21 digs); Otterstetter (18-19 service, 3 aces, 20 digs, 5 kills, 30 assists); Gooding (10-13 service, 2 aces, 16 digs, 5 kills); Wisdom (13-13 service, ace, 5 digs, 5 kills); Hatton (9-10 service, 39 digs, 15 kills); Prince (9-9 service, 2 digs, kill, assist).

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Ocosta 3, Naselle 1

Ocosta kept pace for the top spot in the 1B Coastal League with a 3-1 victory over Naselle on Thursday at Ocosta High School in Westport.

The Wildcats (5-1, 4-0 1B Coastal) kept pace with league-leading Taholah with a 25-15, 25-20, 22-25 and 25-13 victory.

Ocosta took control of the match in the fourth set when setter Millie Tucker went on a 15-point service streak to give the Wildcats a commanding lead.

Tucker would finish the game with 13 digs and seven assists while middle blocker Anna Davis played a key role with 15 kills and 13 digs for Ocosta.

“We had all the pieces going tonight on the defensive end,” Ocosta head coach Erin Snider said. “We dug up many hard driven balls as Naselle has some solid offense. Our serving percentage was not where we would typically be, which really hurt is in set three. We will need to focus more at the service line next week when we see Taholah.”

After playing three games the past three days, Ocosta will have a few days off before taking on Taholah in an important league matchup at 7 p.m. on Monday in Taholah.

Naselle 15 20 25 13 – 1

Ocosta 25 25 22 25 – 3

Leading players: Ocosta – Davis (15 kills, 13 digs); A. Tucker (9 assists); M. Tucker (7 assists, 13 digs); Cuzdey (13 digs); J. Schlegel (14 digs).