Knights Charge Ahead To State

AA/A/B volleyball

East Valley, riding a wave of enthusiasm on its home floor, fought back to defeat Colville Saturday in the title match of the District 7-AA championships, allowing the Knights to advance next weekend to their second straight State AA tournament.

The Frontier League champions defeated Colville 12-15, 15-13, 15-8 to earn the district’s first seed to state. Colville, led throughout the day by Paige Quistad, gained the second seed after ousting Pullman in the opening game of the afternoon session.

In the morning, Pullman eliminated Clarkston, defeating the Bantams 15-11, 15-7. Following the Pullman victory, Colville faced EV for the first time in a winners’ bracket match.

When EV won 15-1, 15-12, the Knights pushed Colville’s Indians into a do-or-die match against Pullman. Colville won it, dismissing Pullman, 9-15, 15-8, 15-11.

Pullman broke out of its gate fast, taking an 11-2 lead before going on to win Game 1. Colville crawled back into contention behind a couple of solid kills from Carissa True and an ace from Raejean Hedrick.

Colville was a different team in Game 2. The Indians, going for every ball that came their way, outhustled the Greyhounds with inspiring defense and a thundering offense. With the score at 10-7, Quistad stepped behind the back line and served the final five points, the last of which was a game-winning ace.

In game three, Colville and Pullman played traditional volleyball with big rallies and aggressive play. The Indians moved out in front 6-0 before the Greyhounds came back to tie the game at 9-9. Colville’s Melissa Wollan served out the game with an ace for match point.

Leah Wilde had nine kills for the Greyhounds and Loni Eastep had 17 assists accompanied by eight digs.

Quistad, undoubtedly, was the player of the championship match. Her blocks, kills, and driving jump serve baffled EV throughout the first and much of the second and third games. Nonetheless, Kristen Holleran’s kills and Jenny Kann’s stretch of productive serving in the second game gave EV the momentum it needed to put the Indians away.

EV enters the state tournament on the heels of 15 consecutive wins against Frontier teams, three of them in the weekend’s district play.

Class A

In the District 7-A playoffs at Central Valley High School, Colfax decisively defeat Freeman, 15-2, 15-6, to earn the district’s first seed to state.

Earlier in the day, Freeman eliminated Chewelah 15-9, 15-4, Deer Park ousted Lakeside 15-4, 11-15, 15-6, and Freeman defeated Newport 15-13, 15-7.

Colfax eliminated Deer Park 15-9, 15-11 to advance to the championship match.

Angie Hall powered the Bulldogs with 13 kills and Michelle Mellor contributed 10 assists. As a team, the Bulldogs served 11 aces. Afterward, Newport and Freeman met for the second seed. The Scotties lost again as Newport reigned 15-7, 15-5. Newport’s Hailee Haptonstahl had four back-to-back aces to lift the taller Newport players over Freeman.

Class B

In District 7-B playoff action at Cheney High School, Ritzville topped two-time defending state champ Wilbur-Creston in the championship match 15-8, 15-12 and earned the first seed to the state tournament.

Angelina Vallone’s 24 serves and seven aces sparked the Broncos. Both the Broncos and Wildcats earned state berths.

Davenport and Northwest Christian played for the third state berth, with Davenport winning 8-15, 15-1, 15-12. Christy Cowdrey had 17 kills and six blocks to lead Davenport. Christie Emery added 11 kills and Kylene Marriott contributed 31 assists.

Earlier, Northport was eliminated by Northwest Christian 15-10, 15-5, and Odessa lost to Davenport 15-8, 15-3.

, DataTimes