Multiple teams from across Twin Harbors competed in the 1A and 2B District 4 Volleyball Tournaments on Wednesday, with some teams’ seasons coming to an end while others lived to play another day.
Montesano to face Hoquiam in consolation bracket
The Hoquiam Grizzlies and Montesano Bulldogs played two thrilling matches that ended up deciding the 1A Evergreen League title during the regular season.
They’ll face off one more time this season, but with much more at stake.
Montesano (13-5 overall) and Hoquiam (11-4) both split their respective games on Wednesday and are set to meet in an elimination game in the tournament’s consolation round scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at King’s Way Christian High School.
Montesano, the league’s No. 1 seed entering the tournament, held a 2-1 lead over Trico No. 4 seed King’s Way Christian (9-7) and went up 12-7 in the fourth set.
But KWC rallied with 10 straight points to take a 17-12 lead.
Monte responded to pull to within a point at 19-18 after a block by junior middle blocker Addie Winter.
But the Knights scored six of the game’s next seven points, closing out the set on back-to-back kills from Brietta Glover and Bridget Young.
The two teams traded points throughout the fifth and decisive set. Tied at 13-13, KWC scored the game’s final two points to send Montesano to the consolation round.
Monte defeated Elma, which lost its first-round game in straight sets to La Center to advance to the consolation semifinals.
Elma eliminated
Elma (6-11) was eliminated from the postseason with the two losses on Wednesday.
Aubrey Moore and Torrey Thompson led the Eagles with 11 assists and five kills, respectively, in the 25-8, 26-24 and 25-19 loss to the Wildcats.
Moore (21 assists, 5 kills), Brooklyne Swarts (9 kills, 9 digs), Thompson (7 kills) and Hannah Warren (5 kills 11 digs) led the way for the Eagles in the 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 loss to the Bulldogs.
“I’m proud of how well our team did today against two tough teams,” Elma head coach Kendra Dunn said. “We continued to fight each point and played very scrappy. I’m proud of how our team ended our season.”
Hoquiam falls in district semifinals
Hoquiam defeated Columbia-White Salmon 28-26, 25-16 and 25-19 to advance to the district semifinals on Wednesday in Castle Rock.
But facing No. 1 Trico League seed Castle Rock, the Grizzlies fell 25-15, 25-6 and 25-10 and were relegated to the consolation round.
“Had a good night, and a bad night,” quipped Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich. “Castle Rock is a tough team all around. They just do everything well. We couldn’t get into anything offensively but I’m proud of my team for some of the plays we made.”
In the win over CWS, Kristina Goulet (10 kills, 4 blocks, 13-13 service), Kamryn Krohn (12 digs) and Graci Bonney-Spradlin (20 digs) led Hoquiam.
In the loss to Castle Rock, the Grizzlies were led by Goulet (8 kills), Bonney-Spradlin (14 digs) and Krohn (10 digs).
The split sets up a matchup against Montesano at 10 a.m. Saturday at King’s Way Christian High School, with the winner advancing to the consolation final and the loser being eliminated from the tournament, ending its season.
ALEC DIETZ | THE CHRONICLE Raymond’s Kyra Gardner (7) rises for a kill during a victory over Adna in a 2B District 4 semifinal game on Wednesday in Adna. The Seagulls advanced to the district championship game against Kalama on Saturday.
Raymond beats Adna, advances to district-title game
The Raymond volleyball team proved its sparkling record was no fluke with a 3-1 victory over Adna in the 2B District 4 semifinals on Wednesday at Adna High School.
Raymond (16-1) started hot, using a strong service and stout defense to keep the No. 10 Pirates (11-4) out of rhythm. The Seagulls won the first two sets 25-15 and 25-13 to take the wind out of the Pirates sails.
Adna put Raymond into an early hole in the third set to beat the Seagulls 25-22.
But Raymond continued to defend well, make clean passes and sets, and hammer the ball for points en route to a 25-10 fourth set victory and 3-1 match win.
“Overall, we came out strong and were able to assert ourselves early on,” Raymond head coach Bob Swogger said. It was a good, whole team effort.”
Outside hitter Kyra Gardner led Raymond with 31 kills (41% hitting) and also had four aces on the evening.
Karsyn Freeman (5 kills, 2 aces), Alia Enlow (4 kills) and Grace Busenius (3 kills) also had kills for Raymond as did Sidney Swogger, who had five kills and was the catalyst for the high-output offense with 28 assists.
Kyndal Koski led Raymond’s defense with 20 digs to go along with four aces.
Raymond, the state’s No. 7 team in the WIAA RPI rankings and the tournament’s overall No. 2 seed, will now face the tourney’s top seed — the Kalama Chinooks (17-2) — in the 2B District 4 Championship game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Adna High School.
ERIC TRENT | THE CHRONICLE Ocosta’s Emily Scott (14) gets in front of a ball hit by Rainier in the a 2B District 4 playoff match Wednesday at Napavine High School.
Ocosta’s season ends in consolation round
The Ocosta Wildcats season came to an end with a 25-17, 21-25, 24-13 and 25-17 consolation-round loss to Rainier on Wednesday in Napavine.
Annika Hollingsworth led Ocosta (7-7) with five kills and nine digs.
Alexia Bradley, Samantha Schlegel, Jolissa Schlegel and Taylor Stoll had four kills apiece for the Wildcats.
Brynn Rasmus had a team-high 14 assists for Ocosta.
“It just wasn’t our night tonight,” Ocosta head coach Erin Snider said. “Rainier put up some solid offense and served tough. We had a tough time keeping in system.”
Snider said “very happy” with how the Wildcats season played out and sees a bright future for a young Wildcats team.
“Having two-thirds of our varsity team as underclassmen, we have time to improve and grow,” she said. “I see lots of potential for the future.”
