Lakeside Coasts To District 7 Title

3A/2A/1A/B volleyball

Now the rest of the state’s Class 2A volleyball teams can attempt to win a game from Lakeside.

Lakeside, the defending state champion, breezed through the District 7 Tournament at East Valley on Saturday.

The Eagles swept both of their matches against Great Northern League opponents, but that’s nothing new. No GNL team has won a game from the Eagles this season.

Jen Barcus totaled eight kills, eight digs and two aces as the Eagles stomped Pullman 15-5, 15-0 in the championship match. Kate Reome added 15 assists and had seven consecutive service points in the second game.

Barcus also had 10 kills, and Reome added 15 assists and five digs in Lakeside’s opener, a 15-13, 15-1 decision over Chewelah.

Lakeside earned the No. 1 seed to the state event, which begins Friday at Yakima’s Sundome.

Just like last season, Newport grabbed the second and final state berth by topping Pullman 15-11, 15-12 in the day’s final competition. Rose Sauer had eight kills and Sam Almond 18 assists to guide the Grizzlies.

The teams had met earlier in the day, with Pullman rallying for a 0-15, 15-11, 15-10 win. Amy Chamberlain paced the Greyhounds with 12 kills, four blocks and three aces.

The tourney’s loser-out openers were Pullman over Riverside 2-1, and Chewelah over Medical Lake 2-0.

Katie Farrell had seven digs and Holly Voda five blocks to spark Pullman’s comeback win. Peggy Davis led Chewelah with eight kills and six digs.

Newport was responsible for Chewelah’s exit. Rushell Provo totaled eight kills and two blocks to help Newport’s 15-13, 15-4 win.

3A regional tournament

Defending champion Selah outlasted West Valley (Yakima) 15-4, 13-15, 16-14 in the championship match at Cheney High to earn the No. 1 seed to the state tournament at St. Martin’s College in Lacey. Selah, which placed third last year, has won three state titles since 1993… . WV earned the second and final state berth by holding off Cheney 12-15, 15-9, 17-15. The Rams also qualified for state last season… . Cheney had advanced to the winner-to-state match by rallying past Frontier League neighbor Colville 8-15, 15-11, 15-5.

District 7 1A Tournament

Colfax qualified for its eighth consecutive state tournament by defeating Freeman 15-2, 15-12 in the championship match at Mead High. Stacia Willson totaled nine kills and seven digs for the Bulldogs in the title match. Becky VanTine served five consecutive points to offset Freeman’s early lead in the second game. Colfax placed second at last year’s state tournament. The Bulldogs have six top-six trophies at state, including two championships, since 1993… . Freeman bounced back to qualify for state by defeating Liberty 15-9, 15-5. State begins Friday at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

District 7 B Tournament

Davenport defended its title by storming past Almira/Coulee-Hartline 15-4, 15-10 in an all Bi-County League championship match at Cheney High. Cindy Swain had 18 kills and 10 digs for the Gorillas, and Rachae Bell added 31 assists and three aces. The Gorillas again earned the No. 1 seed to the State B Tournament, which begins Friday at Eastern Washington University. Davenport will play at its 10th consecutive state tourney. ACH, last year’s fifth-place team at state, advances as the No. 2 seed. Jackie Evans had 10 kills, and Erica Fuller added five digs and eight assists for ACH… . Valley Christian and St. George’s won earlier in the day to both qualify for their first state appearances. St. George’s has played in five State B basketball title games, winning two, but state volleyball will be a new experience. St. George’s earned the only state berth for the Panorama League by toppling Panorama regular-season champion Northwest Christian 15-11, 15-8. Julie Witherspoon had 10 kills and four blocks for St. George’s, and Tess Nally added 10 digs. Jodi Shuman had six kills and three blocks for NWC… . Carli Smith had 15 kills to help VC to a 16-14, 15-11 win that ousted Wilbur-Creston… . In the match for third and fourth seeds to state, Katie DePonty had 12 digs and Nally added 12 kills to lead St. George’s to a 15-0, 15-8 win over VC.

District 9 B Tournament

Betsy Smart totaled 26 kills and 11 blocks to guide Tekoa-Oakesdale to a 15-3, 14-16, 16-14 win over Pomeroy in the championship match at Pullman High. The Nighthawks advance to the State B Tournament as the No. 1 seed, Pomeroy as the No. 2. Pomeroy won the 1997 state title by defeating T-O… . T-O advanced to the title match by knocking off defending state champ Garfield-Palouse 14-16, 15-12, 16-14. Gar-Pal led the third game 14-10. Katie Driscoll led the Nighthawks with 20 kills and 12 digs. Gar-Pal won both Whitman County matches vs. T-O this season… . Gar-Pal fought back to qualify for state by eliminating Rosalia 15-1, 15-11 for the third seed. Andrea Fox had 13 digs and 11 kills for Gar-Pal.