WESTPORT — With Karlee Freeman taking center stage, Raymond’s volleyballers earned rave reviews on critical points against rival Ocosta.
Freeman pounded out 21 kills as the Gulls handed the Wildcats their first Pacific League loss, 25-20, 25-23, 8-25, 25-21, on Monday at Westport.
Repeating a non-league win over Ocosta, Raymond (10-3 overall) improved to 5-2 in league and kept alive its chances for second place in league and home-court advantage for Saturday’s first two rounds of district. Ocosta fell to 6-1 in league and 11-2 overall.
The Wildcats visit league-leading Life Christian on Wednesday, while the Gulls host cellar-dwelling Chief Leschi. It was immediately uncertain how a potential three-way tie for second between Ocosta, Raymond and Northwest Christian would be settled.
Predictably a force at the net, Freeman also served five aces. The senior standout was equally valuable in the back row, although accurate digging statistics were not available. Raymond’s ability to pick up Ocosta hits was one of the keys to the outcome.
“We’re almost more scrappy (defensively) than offensive-minded,” Raymond coach Bob Swogger acknowledged.
Swogger, however, was more pleased with his team’s offensive aggressiveness.
“We finally started attacking the ball more frequently and effectively than we have been doing in the (matches) we’ve lost,” he said.
Maddi Murray added 10 kills and fine passing for the Gulls, while 5-foot-6 middle blocker Tiny Sypaphay fared well against taller opponents with three kills and three solo blocks.
Kaylee Barnum had nine kills and 11 digs, Erika Snider seven kills, four aces and 15 assists and Alivia Marsh four solo blocks and 12 digs for Ocosta.
The Wildcats matched the Gulls at the net for much of an exciting, well-played match, but suffered occasionally from communication lapses and erratic passing.
“That’s what we didn’t do as well as the last (match). We didn’t pass,” Ocosta coach Barbara Rasmus said. “When we get it to our hitters, they put it on the floor.”
The Gulls easily could have lost any of the sets they won. They rallied from an 8-2 deficit in the opening stanza and barely withstood an Ocosta rally in the second set.
Raymond trailed 15-12 in the fourth before a side-out gave Freeman the serve. She hit two aces while jump-serving the next six points.
Murray’s kill gave the Gulls match point at 24-20. Following a side-out, Freeman appropriately provided the clinching point by putting away a Makenna Williams set.
The second set also proved crucial to the outcome. Scrapping back from a 13-5 deficit, Ocosta closed to within a single point on four occasions, but never drew even.
Snider’s winning tip cut Raymond’s lead to 24-23, but Freeman slammed a back-row hit that the Wildcats were unable to handle.
Alternating between hitter and setter, Snider delivered four kills and two aces in a decisive third-set Wildcat victory.
Raymond took the JV match, 25-14, 27-25, and the C squad contest, 25-23, 25-11.
