Grizzlies turn the tables on Monte in volleyball

Hoquiam avenges volleyball loss to Montesano

By Rick Anderson • October 21, 2017 1:30 am
Photo by Patti Reynvaan — The Hoquiam volleyball team celebrates its four-game victory over rival Montesano on Thursday at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.
Photo by Patti Reynvaan — The Hoquiam volleyball team celebrates its four-game victory over rival Montesano on Thursday at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.

MONTESANO — Whatever lessons Hoquiam’s Grizzlies learned from their first volleyball meeting with Montesano, they have put them to good use of late.

Kamimi Papp and Karlie Krohn combined for 38 kills as the Grizzlies avenged a previous defeat with a 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20 win in an Evergreen 1A League contest Thursday at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.

By ending a long period of frustration against a traditional volleyball nemesis, Hoquiam (4-2, 7-6) kept alive a slender hope of garnering a share of a league title. Montesano fell to 4-3 in league and 7-6 for the season.

A four-set loss to Montesano earlier this month represented one of the low points of the HHS season. But the Grizzlies pushed league-leading Elma to five sets in their next outing and haven’t lost since.

“They’re starting to come together as a team and our communication has improved ten-fold from what it was,” Hoquiam coach Heather Bozich said.

Badly off on their hitting in the first Montesano match, the Grizzlies were far more efficient in that department on Thursday. Papp delivered 20 kills and Krohn 18. Junior setter Kacey Pelan distributed 36 assists.

Bozich was also impressed with her team’s passing and defense, particularly in retrieving balls that didn’t go directly to the setter. Libero ReyLynn Dunn had 17 digs and Krohn 15.

McKenna Miller had 13 kills and Lindsay Pace eight kills and 16 digs for Montesano. Senior setter Hannah Hatcher dished up 28 assists. But the Bulldogs struggled at times in serve-receive and other forms of passing.

“Our passing was off,” Monte coach Renee Volz said. “I think we were a little distracted because of Senior Night.”

A power outage that wiped out much of the Bulldogs’ practice Wednesday didn’t help their preparation, Volz added.

Although none of the sets were blowouts, Hoquiam led most of the way. The Bulldogs even rallied from an 8-2 deficit in the second set, turning things around on Miller’s five-point serving streak midway through the stanza.

Strong hitting by Papp and Krohn powered the Grizzlies in the third set. Up 16-14 in the third set, Hoquiam scored the next three points on a pair of Papp tips and a Monte net violation.

Krohn’s tip gave Hoquiam match point at 24-19. Miller’s kill kept the Bulldogs alive, but Krohn again tipped away a Pelan set to close it out.

In addition to her statistical leaders, Bozich cited the net play of Mercedes Pinnell and Elyse Goulet.

Montesano’s Miller, Hatcher and Kaydee Mittleider were honored in Senior Night ceremonies.

Hoquiam took a marathon JV match, 25-21, 14-25, 18-16. Montesano’s C squad prevailed, 19-25, 25-21, 15-10.

Montesano will compete in the Adna Invitational on Saturday. On Tuesday, the Grizzlies host Elma and the Bulldogs visit Forks.