Grays Harbor News Group

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

Grays Harbor 3, South Puget Sound 0

Grays Harbor College held on to the last playoff seed with a decisive straight-set victory over South Puget Sound Wednesday night in Aberdeen.

The Chokers (20-16, 5-3, Northwest Athletic Conference) cruised past the Clippers 25-15, 25-12 and 25 14, with the Chokers winning every set by more than 10 points.

Savanah Davis had a standout offensive performance with a team-leading eight kills.

Crimson Maafala, who is eight assists away from the Chokers single-season record, came up with 16 assists against the Clippers.

Grays Harbor College’s Crimson Maafala sets up Savanah Davis for a kill in the third set against South Puget Sound on Wednesday. Maafala led the team with 16 assists in the match. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

South Puget Sound (3-23, 1-7) struggled on offense with a numerous attacking errors that allowed GHC to pull away.

Grays Harbor’s Roina Maafala said her team stayed focus on the game plan though the Clippers hit a lot of shots out of boumds.

“We’re always excited to play and our first instinct is to attack,” she said. “Even if the match doesn’t go like that, that’s when discipline comes into play to keep the ball in play even when we don’t get the sets that we want.”

GHC will hit the road to face Centralia on Friday, a team the Chokers beat in straight sets when the two squared of on Sept. 23 at Grays Harbor College.

Chokers head coach Christine Nelson said her team will need stay focused if it wants a repeat of the previous outcome.

“We have to clean up some little things. Sometimes you get towards the end of the season and you get kind of relaxed and it’s about focusing on those little things because thats what’s going to get you next level.”

SPCC 15 12 14 – 0

GHC 25 25 25 – 3

Top Players: Davis (15 assists, 8 kills), Telia Kapihe (10 assists, 2 kills), Leleo Maeva (10 assists, 3 kills)

CROSS COUNTRY

Aberdeen’s Gary Sherman, middle, and Jordan McKinney, right, race each other near the finish line at the 2A Evergreen League meet in Tumwater. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

Aberdeen’s Sherman, Taylor crack top 10 at districts

The Aberdeen cross country team had a runner in the top 10 in both the men’s and women’s varsity races at the 2A Evergreen League Championships at Pioneer Park in Tumwater on Wednesday.

Aberdeen’s Gary Sherman finished 10th with a time of 17:25.5 and Skyler Taylor finished eighth in the women’s race with a time of 22:33.79.

Taylor, who lost some ground when she tripped and fell during her run, said things went well considering the circumstances.

“The fall really affected my time. I could have had a (personal record) if I didn’t fall. But after a while I caught up with the group,” she said.

Jordan McKinney finished right behind Sherman with a time of 17:26.74 to place 11th in the boys race.

Bobcats head coach April Meissner said her team is right where they should be this time of year.

“For the first guy to be running a 17:26 is really good, so they’re ready for districts,” she said. “We have seven fast guys that are going to be representing us at districts and five fast girls. I think overall they’re pretty happy with their times.”

Aberdeen’s Skyler Taylor crosses the finish line eighth place at the 2A Evergreen League meet in Tumwater. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

Tumwater was dominant on the day, edging second-place Black Hills by two points in the men’s race and beating WF West by 11 points in the women’s race.

Black Hills’ Pearson Popchock won the men’s race at 16:25.01 and Francisco Lima of WF West took second with a time of 16:33.51. Truman Affledt from Black Hills rounded out the top three to take bronze with a time of 16:33.72.

Black Hills’ Maggie Wood-Richardson won the women’s race with a time of 20:49.03, followed by Lydia Jack from Tumwater who had a time of 20:59.07. Black Hills runner Hannah Reynolds took third at 21:07.69.

Aberdeen will compete at the disrict meet at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland on Thursday, Oct. 25.

PREP SWIMMING

Aberdeen 148, Adna-Centralia-WF West 21

Katelyn Ancich became the latest Bobcats swimmer to qualify for districts as Aberdeen defeated the combined team of Adna, Centralia and WF West, 148-21, at the 2A Evergreen Sub-District Meet on Wednesday at the Grays Harbor YMCA.

Ancich had a qualifying time of 30.80 to punch her ticket to the 2A District IV Championships in the 50-yard freestyle. She also had a personal-best time of 1:18.02 in the 100-yard backstroke.

Tatum Heikkila also qualified for the district meet with a time of 1:21.93 in the 100-yard backstroke.

Ashlyn Yakovich had personal-record marks in the 100-yard freestyle (1:29.96) and in the 1-meter dive (101.65).

Madysen Baudais, Anneliese Boyle. Natalie Miles and Rian Tingwall were noted by Aberdeen head coach Jan Simmons for their performances on the 200- and 400-yard relay teams.

The district championship meet is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start on Nov. 2 at Evergreen State College.

PREP SOCCER

Ocosta 8, Toutle Lake 0

The Ocosta Wildcats scored early and often en route to an 8-0 shutout win over Toutle Lake on Wednesday at Toutle Lake High School.

Teal Mitby and Kennedy Merino each had a pair of goals and an assist to lead Ocosta (10-4 Central 2B) in victory.

The Wildcats led 3-0 at the half and also got a goal and an assist from Maia Soderlund.

Ocosta’s Keara Wingate scored the final goal of the game, her first of the season, on Devyn Martin’s first varsity assist.

Piper Furford, Mercedes Denny and Abriana Ness anchored Ocosta’s defensive effort while Mitby led the passing attack with 15 of 17 completions.

Ocosta hosts Napavine at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Ocosta 3 5 — 8

Toutle Lake 0 0 — 0