Ocosta outlasted Willapa Valley for a key league victory as we review Tuesday’s prep sports action on the Harbor.
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PREP VOLLEYBALL
Ocosta 3, Willapa Valley 2
Ocosta earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over Willapa Valley on Tuesday in Menlo.
The Wildcats (3-1 overall, 3-0 1B Coastal) won 17-25, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25 and 15-8 over the Vikings (4-2, 3-2).
Ocosta trailed 13-2 in the fourth set before rallying to tie the game at 21-all, but the Vikings outscored the Wildcats 4-1 over the next five points to force a decisive Game 5.
Trailing 6-3 in the fifth set, Ocosta rallied behind senior Sophie Olive to win the set 15-8, with Olive serving the final five points of the match.
“We always say, ‘Focus on that next point, not the total score,’” Ocosta head coach Erin Snider said. “We did that tonight. My players dug deep and didn’t quit.”
Olive was a perfect 17 for 17 from the service line in the match.
Ocosta hitters Jolissa Schlegel (17 kills) and Anna Davis (11 kills) each recorded double-digit kills while Ava Tucker (12 assists) and Millie Tucker (11 assists) led the Wildcats in assists.
Noel Cuzdey led Ocosta with 30 digs.
Ocosta takes on North Beach at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Westport.
Ocosta 17 25 25 22 15 – 3
Willapa Valley 25 21 20 25 8 – 2
Leading players: Ocosta – J. Schlegel (17 kills); Davis (11 kills); A. Tucker (12 assists); M. Tucker (11 assists); Cuzdey (30 digs); Olive (17-17 service).
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Forks 3, Hoquiam 2
The young Hoquiam Grizzlies continue to play competitive volleyball, losing to Forks in five sets on Tuesday in Forks.
Hoquiam (4-2) lost 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25 and 12-15.
“This was an incredibly scrappy Forks team that played incredible defense, making it tough for us to find the floor,” Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said. “Even though this wasn’t our best, I’m really proud of how we never gave up.”
Hoquiam was led by middle blocker Hayden Brook-Andrew, who had 14 kills and nine digs to go along with six solo blocks.
Grizzlies libero Lexi LaBounty had 42 digs while setter Katlyn Brodhead had five kills and a team-high 37 assists.
Hoquiam opens league play against Montesano at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Montesano.
Hoquiam 25 21 25 19 12 – 2
Forks 23 25 23 25 15 – 3
Leading players: Hoquiam – LaBounty (42 digs); Brook-Andrew (14 kills, 6 solo blocks, 9 digs); Brodhead (37 assists, 5 kills); Burtenshaw (8 kills).
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GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Elma 2, Centralia 2
Elma avoided a loss for the first time this season with a 2-2 tie against Centralia on Tuesday at Centralia High School.
Playing in its final game before league play, the Eagles (0-4-1) trailed 1-0 before a pinpoint through ball from senior forward Miley Seaberg found the foot of standout forward Beta Valentine, who scored to tie the game in the 30th minute.
Elma took the lead just after halftime when sophomore midfielder Kenna Monroe converted a cross from senior midfielder Valerie Echeverria in the 47th minute.
After Centralia tied at 2-2, Valentine found herself on a breakaway in the final minutes, but the oncoming keeper was able to get a toe on Valentine’s poke toward goal to steer it away from net, ending the game in a tie.
“I liked some of the tweaks that we did,” said Elma head coach Evan Valentine, who had to play some younger players as senior midfielder Mia Monroe was out (illness) and Seaberg played limited minutes due to a minor injury. “The team fought hard. They all played with energy. … I had to draw on younger players to come up and they did admirably. I liked the team’s fight.”
Elma hosts Rochester in a 1A Evergreen League opener at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Elma 1 1 – 2
Centralia 1 1 – 2
Scoring
First half – 1, Centralia. 2, Elma, Valentine (Seaberg), 30th minute.
Second half – 3, Elma, K. Monroe (Echeverria), 47th minute. 4, Centralia.
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Ocosta 2, Gig Harbor 2
Ocosta tied with Gig Harbor in a non-league contest on Tuesday at Gig Harbor High School.
Ocosta (4-0-1) got on the board with a goal in the 48th minute when forward Bristol Towle scored on an assist from Kat Nersten.
The Wildcats then took the lead when midfielder Kylee Denny scored off a pass from Brizeyda Ayala-Rios to make it a 2-1 game in the 72nd minute.
But just three minutes later, Gig Harbor scored on backup keeper Penny Park to tie the game at 2-2.
Ocosta had 24 shots to just 10 for a “well disciplined and scrappy” Gig Harbor team, according to Wildcats head coach Rissy Ness.
“I am still so impressed with our girls playing a hard fought game with only one sub towards the end of the game, and so many fought through tiredness and the viciousness of the heat,” Ness said. “These girls continue to play well together and are each others biggest cheerleaders.”
Ocosta opens 1B Coastal League play against Toledo at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Toledo High School.
Ocosta 0 2 – 2
PHOTO BY VAN ADAM DAVIS Ocosta’s Ava Tucker (15) and Anna Davis (16) defend a shot by Willapa Valley’s Tylar Keeton during the Wildcats’ 3-2 victory on Tuesday in Menlo.
