Back on Sept. 19, a young Hoquiam Grizzlies team humbled the more experienced Aberdeen Bobcats in a straight-set victory in Hoquiam.

On Monday, the Bobcats returned the favor.

Showing a vast amount of improvement in the three weeks since they last met, Aberdeen defeated Hoquiam in straight sets at Sam Benn Gym in Aberdeen.

“We came in with a lot of energy, set the pace for ourselves and we had all the positivity,” Aberdeen senior outside hitter and co-captain Ashlyn Richie said. “My senior year, I really wanted to beat them and we came and showed them who we are.”

Aberdeen (5-2 overall) held a slim 2-3 point lead throughout much of the first set before pulling away at 18-13 on an ace by senior middle blocker and co-captain Lilly Camp.

The Bobcats would outscore the Grizzlies (5-4) 5-2 down the stretch and win Game 1 when a Hoquiam shot went into the net.

In the second set, two two teams traded barbs back and forth during the early part of the game until Aberdeen opened up a 6-point lead at 16-10 on two straight kills from Camp.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen senior outside hitter Ashlyn Richie (7) shoots between Hoquiam defenders Hayden Brook-Andrew (5) and Hallie Burgess during the Bobcats’ straight-set victory on Monday at Aberdeen High School.

Hoquiam rallied to get to within one at 20-19 after an Aberdeen passing error, but a subsequent Grizzlies serve sailed long to give the Cats a 21-19 lead.

A block by junior middle blocker Dallyn Williams followed by a Hoquiam reception error put Aberdeen up 23-19 and forced a Hoquiam time out.

The teams would trade points before a Camp drop shot hit the floor to give Aberdeen the Game 2 win, 25-20.

Aberdeen carried its momentum into the third game, leaping out to a 7-1 lead highlighted by four Camp kills and an ace by sophomore libero Sophie Knutson.

But Hoquiam started to find its game and eventually tied the set at 7-all when an Aberdeen shot went long.

Aberdeen responded by scoring the next four points to force another Hoquiam time out.

The Myrtle Street rivals would never be separated by more than two points until Hoquiam took a 20-17 lead, forcing Aberdeen to call time and regroup.

Hoquiam looked to get back into the match with a set win as the Grizzlies were at game point at 24-21 after a Bobcats return went out of bounds.

But an Aberdeen team that waived the white flag in similar situations in its loss earlier in the season didn’t do so on Monday.

The Cats battled back to tie the game at 24-24 on a block by Camp.

The Grizzlies would eventually earn their fifth game point after a kill by freshman outside hitter Aaliyah Kennedy made it 26-25 Hoquiam

But Hoquiam’s chance at a set win slipped away when an easy third shot over the net by Knutson lobbed over the Grizzlies and dropped into the back corner of the court, tying the game at 26-all.

Aberdeen earned match point when a Hoquiam pass went into the net, but the Grizzlies caught a break when the Bobcats’ ensuing service sailed long.

Tied at 27, Aberdeen junior outside hitter Hadley Lowery finished off a feed from setter Mia Hallak for a kill off the block attempt of Grizzlies middle blocker Hayden Brook-Andrew.

Aberdeen didn’t let its second chance at match point get away as Richie hit a Hallak pass off of Brook-Andrew’s block and out of bounds to earn a 29-27 win and sweep the Grizzlies 3-0.

“If we want it, we’ve got to go win it,” said Richie of the Aberdeen coaching staff’s words leading into the game. “We practiced and the practice makes perfect.”

“We’ve just been really focusing on setting the pace of our game and not rolling over,” Aberdeen head coach Desiree Glanz said. “It helped that we’ve had two league wins so far and that kind of got the ball rolling for us. … We worked on just getting a hand on everything as much as possible and serve to position. … We’ve been focusing on every little element that we can.”

Hallak had 34 assists and six aces to lead Aberdeen in the win, with Camp leading a balanced Cats attack with 12 kills.

Knutson led Aberdeen’s defense with 27 digs.

Kennedy led the Grizzlies with 12 kills while setter Katlyn Brodhead had 23 assists for Hoquiam.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen setter Mia Hallak had 36 assists to lead the Bobcats to a straight-set victory over Hoquiam on Monday at Aberdeen High School.

“I saw (Aberdeen) play team volleyball and we were six individuals on the court tonight,” said a candid Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich. “We talked about that in the locker room (after the game) and they agreed. This is going to be one of those losses we really learn from. I’m glad Aberdeen gave it to us tonight because we needed a reality check that nothing is given, nobody is going to give us anything.”

Aberdeen hosts Shelton in a 2A Evergreen Conference game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Hoquiam hosts Elma in a 1A Evergreen League matchup at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Hoquiam 16 20 27 – 0

Aberdeen 25 25 29 – 3

Leading players: H – Kennedy (4-6 service, 12 kills, 5 digs, block); Templer (9-9 service, 4 digs); Parra (7-11 service, 4 aces, 2 digs); Brook-Andrew (10-12 service, 4 kills, block); Brodhead (5-8 service, 23 assists, 2 digs); LaBounty (9-11 service, kill, 7 digs); Burtenshaw (7 kills, dig); Burgess (2 kills). A – Hallak (17-18 service, 6 aces, block, 34 assists, 3 digs); Scott (8-12 service, aces, 8 digs); Vessey (11-11 service, 7 digs); Schimelpfenig (10-11 service, 7 digs); Lowery (5 kills, 2 digs); Richie (4 kills, 3 digs, assist); Camp (7-8 service, 12 kills, ace, 2 blocks); Knutson (15-17 service, 2 aces, 2 assists, 3 kills, 27 digs).