Willapa Valley came up clutch in a district-semifinal game against Ocosta as we review Thursday’s prep volleyball games on the Harbor.

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PREP VOLLEYBALL

Willapa Valley 3, Ocosta 2

The third time was the charm for Willapa Valley.

Despite losing its two league meetings against the Ocosta Wildcats during the regular season, the Vikings got it done when it counted most, upsetting the Wildcats 3-2 in a 1B District 4 semifinal game on Thursday at Toledo High School.

Valley (12-5 overall) won the hotly-contested matchup against the Wildcats (15-3) by scores of 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-8, earning a spot in the district-title game and a berth in the state tournament in the process.

“We knew we could play pretty tight with Ocosta, they are a really good team and are really well-coached. … It just came down to who was going to work the hardest for it and who was going to work together as a team,” Valley head coach Chelsea Kempton said. “(The Vikings) did everything we as coaches asked them to do and hustled every play. They did an amazing job pushing past mistakes, resetting and getting on to the next point. … They really stepped it up and came together tonight and it was so exciting to see.”

Valley’s offense was led by junior setter Lauren Matlock (16 assists, 10 digs) and hitters Tylar Keeton (14 kills) and Paislee Hurley (13 kills).

Senior libero Alana Neva had 21 digs while Keeton added three blocks for the Vikings defense, which played a big part in the win according to Ocosta head coach Erin Snider.

“Valley’s defense showed up in a big way tonight,” Snider said. “We were hitting, but they were able to keep it off the floor. We will regroup and will be ready for another battle tomorrow.”

Ocosta faces Naselle in a winner-to-state-loser-out game on Friday at 6 p.m. at Raymond High School.

Valley will take on Taholah – which defeated Columbia Adventist 3-1 in a tournament semifinal – on Saturday at Oakville High School (time to be determined).

Willapa Valley 22 25 25 23 15 – 3

Ocosta 25 21 23 25 8 – 2

Leading players: Willapa Valley – Keeton (14 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs); Hodel (7 aces, 5 kills, 12 digs); Channell (4 aces, 2 kills, block, 8 assists, 8 digs); Neva (4 aces, 21 digs); Barnum (3 aces, 9 kills, 2 digs); Ruddell (ace, 12 digs); Hurley (ace, 13 kills, block, 2 digs); Matlock (ace, 3 kills, 16 assists, 10 digs); Lynch (kill); Sheary (8 assists, 7 digs). Ocosta – Schlegel (8 kills); Davis (12 kills); Olive (8 kills); A. Tucker (17 assists); M. Tucker (25-25 service).

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Other games

2A 4 District Tournament

Mark Morris 3, Aberdeen 2

Woodland 3, Aberdeen 0 (Aberdeen eliminated)

1B District 4 Tournament

Taholah 3, Columbia Adventist 1

(Taholah advances to district-title game)