The best offense begins with defense and in no sport is that adage truer than volleyball.
West Valley (Yakima) won the defensive battle of the backcourt that kept Mt. Spokane on its heels, a winning formula for the championship of Saturday’s Regional 3A volleyball tournament.
The Rams defenders seemed impervious to the best efforts of the Wildcats’ attack, and it translated into a powerful offense during a 25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22 title triumph at Mt. Spokane.
Both teams – No. 1 seeds from their respective districts – had already qualified for next week’s state tournament in Kennewick, where last year Mt. Spokane finished second, with earlier regional victories. WV defeated University in three games and Mt. Spokane struggled past Kennewick in the semifinals.
“The monkey’s off our back,” Wildcats coach John Reid said following the emphatic loss to the Rams. Putting a positive spin on it, he told his girls afterward how Bishop Blanchet bounced back from a district setback to win the State 3A title last year. “We will rise to the occasion.”
Mt. Spokane showed the rust of a 1 1/2-week layoff from live action against Kennewick in the semifinals, winning 25-23, 25-15, 14-25, 25-22.
Fortunately, the Wildcats had Annie Arnzen, who steadied the ship in game one and who finished the four-set contest with 23 kills. She received able backing from fellow junior Ixchelle Oleson and sound setting from senior Kenzie Reid, who had 76 assists for the day, to claim a fourth straight state trip.
University reached the match for the third State 3A berth by beating Kamiakin 25-18, 26-24, 25-12, but lost in three games to WV (Yakima) 25-13, 25-17, 25-21 in the semifinals at Rogers and 17-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 to Kennewick.
• 2A Regional: Shelby Cheslek tallied 19 kills and seven blocks in the final match as Pullman went 3-0, capping its day with a 3-1 victory over Grandview in the regional title game at University. After entering the tournament as the GNL’s No. 2 seed behind West Valley, the Greyhounds earned the top seed to the state tournament by beating Grandview, which advanced as the No. 2 seed to state. … In the third-place match, Selah upended West Valley 3-1 to earn the No. 3 seed. The Eagles – 1-2 in regionals matches– earned the No. 4 seed to state.
• 1A Regional: Erin Little tallied 11 kills and four blocks to lead Colville to a 3-1 victory over Chelan in the regional championship match in Freeman. The Indians earned the top seed to the state tournament, while Chelan earned the No. 2 seed. … In the third-place match, Sophie Bush finished with a tournament-high 27 kills and four blocks as Newport edged Lakeside 17-25, 27-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9 to earn the final state berth.
• District 7 2B: Nicole Sheer tallied 11 kills, three aces and two blocks to lead Colfax to a sweep over Reardan, giving the Bulldogs the district title at Reardan and the No. 1 seed to state. The Indians, led by Kelsey Moos’ 15 kills and seven blocks, advance to state as the No. 2 seed to state. … Northwest Christian defeated Davenport, earning the third and final spot at state.
• District 7 1B: Brynna Stevens finished with 16 kills, four blocks and three aces and Almira/Coulee-Hartline knocked off Wilbur-Creston 3-2 in the district title match in Colbert. Allison Reed led WC with 24 kills and four aces. ACH earned the top seed to the state tournament, while the Wildcats move on to state as the No. 2 seed. … Shyanne Wilson had 18 kills and seven digs as Northport earned the No. 3 seed to state with a straight-set sweep of Cusick.
• District 9 1B: Tekoa-Oakesdale tallied wins in the third and fourth set to defeat Colton 3-1 in the District 9 1B championship match in Colfax. TO advances to the state tournament as the No. 1 seed, while the Wildcats are No. 2. Pomeroy got the third seed by beating St. John-Endicott.
