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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Spokane Powers In Tourney

Chris Derrick And Dave Trimmer S Staff writer

A lion’s share of Greater Spokane League teams has entered Saturday’s star-studded Walla Walla Northwest Volleyball Invitational.

Six of the GSL’s nine teams have committed to the 16-team tournament, including five-time State AAA champion Shadle Park and two-time AAA champ Lewis and Clark.

The field is so high-powered that Shadle and LC are considered afterthoughts when favorites are listed.

Central Catholic of Portland, which has advanced to the Oregon state championship match for three consecutive years, is one of the three top seeds. Central Catholic finished third at Walla Walla last year and returns 6-foot-3 all-tournament player Emily Seacat.

Clovis West of Fresno, Calif., and the host Blue Devils are also top-seeded. Clovis West returns eight from a roster that finished 31-5. Walla Walla brings back five of six starters from a state fifth-place finisher.

Shadle and LC are placed in pool II with Clovis West and Pendleton, Ore. Pendleton finished eighth at Walla Walla last year. Rogers and University of the GSL are in pool I with the host team and Bothell.

Pool III contains Central Catholic, Lake City of Coeur d’Alene, Newport (Bellevue) and Eisenhower, one of three Big Nine Conference teams attending.

The final Big Nine team, Pasco, is in pool IV with Leland of San Jose, Calif., and the GSL’s Ferris and North Central. Ferris, which features returning all-league player Lea Ruhl, was fifth at Walla Walla last year. NC brings college recruiting prize Tamara Van Engelen.

Pool play consists of the best two out of three games to 15 points. Regular pool play begins at 9 a.m., but GSL teams in the same pool will compete in league counters at 7:30 a.m.

Semifinals are scheduled for 5 p.m. and the final is expected to start at 8.

Polling place

It’s time for a high school football poll with perspective. We think we have one.

The News Tribune of Tacoma is coordinating a prep poll with the majority of votes coming from coaches and limited suggestions from the media.

The 30 voters are spread across the state.

Except in one case, voters selected defending champions as No. 1.

Defending champions South Kitsap in Class AAA, O’Dea in Class AA, Montesano in Class A and Touchet in Class B-8 are No. 1. In B-11, Toutle Lake, which lost to Dayton in the Kingbowl, is No. 1. Dayton, which moved up to Class A, is ranked 10th.

In Class AAA, Tumwater is No. 2. Walla Walla, which lost to South Kitsap 15-10 in the Kingbowl, is No. 6. Central Valley is No. 7; Mead and Gonzaga Prep received votes.

Behind O’Dea in Class AA is Lake Stevens, which lost to the Irish 7-6 in the final. Cheney is No. 4 and East Valley (Spokane) is 10.

Royal, which fell to Montesano 7-6 in the Class A title game, is second. Chewelah came in at No. 4 and Lakeside No. 8. Colfax also received votes.

Behind Toutle Lake are Tacoma Baptist and Davenport third. Ritzville is No. 6 and Reardan No. 9.

Pateros, which has lost to the eventual B-8 champions the last four years and fell to Touchet 38-24 in last year’s final, is No. 2, followed by LaCrosse-Washtucna, Crescent and Odessa.

The media members voting in the poll are Dave Trimmer of The Spokesman-Review; Doug Drowley, News Tribune; Jay Maebori, The Tri-Cities Herald; John MacDonald, Everett Herald; and Jason VonderSmith, Vancouver Columbian. The coaches preferred not to have their names published.

, DataTimes