A season of record-breaking proportions came to an end this weekend as the Ocosta Wildcats went 1-2 in the 2B State Volleyball Tournament in Yakima.
Brewster 3, Ocosta 2
Ocosta rallied after a first-set loss to take a 2-1 lead, but any Wildcat hopes for a state title were dashed as Brewster took the final two sets to win Thursday’s first-round game.
Ocosta lost 13-25, 25-15, 25-23, 16-25 and 6-15.
Junior Layne Martin led the Wildcats with 15 kills. Kylee Poirier had 13 blocks, Evalyn Marsh added 19 digs and Emily Snider recorded 23 assists in a loss that sent Ocosta into the consolation bracket.
Ocosta 3, Manson 0
The Wildcats shook off the first-round loss to earn a straight-set win over Manson in the first game of the consolation bracket on Thursday.
Down big and facing set point 24-16 in the opening frame, Ocosta’s Layne Martin served a 10-point scoring streak to give the Wildcats the 26-24 win.
Ocosta rode that momentum to win sets two and three in dominant fashion and earn a state-tournament victory.
Kaylee Barnum hammered a game-high 18 kills and fellow Ocosta school-record holder, Emily Snider, put up 21 assists for the Wildcats in the victory.
Defensively, Marsh and Lillyan Barnum each had 13 digs and sophomore Hailey Jones recorded a team-high 7 blocks for Ocosta.
Ocosta won by scores of 26-24, 25-9 and 25-15 to advance to the second day of the tournament.
Wahkiakum 3, Ocosta 2
The Wildcats season ended after suffering their second five-set loss of the tournament, this time to Wahkiakum on Saturday.
Ocosta’s Kaylee Barnum arguably saved her best game for last. The senior outside hitter had a team-high 15 kills, 13 blocks and 21 digs in an all-around effort.
Snider had 35 assists and chipped in eight blocks for a Wildcats team that had 34 blocks in the game.
Marsh had 26 digs and 12 kills for Ocosta in the season-ending loss.
Tournament stats
For the tournament, Kaylee Barnum led Ocosta with 42 kills in three games. Martin added 31 kills.
Emily Snider had 80 assists and 100 percent service over the two-day tournament. Kylee Poirier led Ocosta with a total of 31 blocks.
Layne Martin, Camryn Scheuber and Evalyn Marsh were all recognized with WIAA sportsmanship medals.
“One of the best teams ever”
Ocosta’s Erin Snider (1) sets up a Kaylee Barnum (4) kill attempt during the 2B State Tournament on Saturday. (Photo by Jim Snider)
Though Ocosta’s trip to the state tournament didn’t end the way Wildcats fans may have hoped, it was a memorable season for Ocosta nonetheless.
“Every member of the 11-player roster contributed at times during the tournament,” Ocosta assistant coach Erin Snider said.
Veteran head coach Barbara Rasmus praised her team after winning a 2B league title, an undefeated regular season, two record-breaking athletes (Barnum and Snider and a trip to the state tournament.
“I’m proud of this team. They worked hard, had fun and played for each other,” Rasmus said. “Thank you ladies for a great year. As a coach for 40 years, this has been one of the best years ever. Thank you for letting the coaching staff be a part of your life.”
