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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tigers top Panthers in region title game

It was nothing short of spectacular.

In yet another match between Greater Spokane League rivals and the two top-ranked teams in the state, LC edged Mead in a five-game, edge-of-your-seat contest and the GSL made a clean sweep of the region’s three state berths at the 4A regional tournament on Saturday at Mead.

This was No. 1 Mead and LC’s fourth meeting this year and with the win the Tigers evened the score at 2-all. The Panthers lost in five games to LC in a non-league match early in the season, but swept the Tigers in the regular-season championship and in the district tournament championship.

“It feels so great,” LC coach Julie Yearout admitted. “The girls have worked so hard, and Mead is so good, so this is huge for us. We really needed to win for ourselves and know heading into state that we could do it.”

The Panthers, who earned a No. 2 seed into next weekend’s state tournament, took a quick 12-5 lead in the first game, but the Tigers closed the gap and trailed by as little as two points. Mead hung on for a 25-21 win.

In the second game, the Tigers responded, jumping ahead 10-4. The Panthers serve-receive game broke down and Janae Forney and Laurie Yearout stuffed three Alexis Olgard bombs at the net.

Mead fought back, but to no avail. LC led 18-10 before Mead scored six unanswered points. The Panthers scored once more before Forney came up with a huge block at 23-17 and Oceanna Bush blasted a kill into the middle at match point.

Mead won the third game 25-19. Another early lead for the Panthers proved to be too much for the Tigers. At 16-12, Mead brushed off a late surge by the Tigers and Meg Ryan ended the game with a kill down the line.

The fourth game was a back-and-forth battle until 14-all. Erica Ehlo served four points for the Tigers, including one of her three aces in the match, and Erika Whittaker pushed the Tigers to 19-14 with a blazing shot that kissed the right line.

Whittaker, who has seen limited playing time behind Forney, Zimmerman and sophomore Chloe Rowand, came up with a stunning solo block at 21-15 and the Tigers held on to win 25-16.

In the decisive fifth game, the Tigers took a quick 5-1 lead and held strong until 12-5.

The Panthers didn’t make it easy on the Tigers, scoring six unanswered points and trailing by only one point. But LC couldn’t be stopped and Hannah Zimmerman pounded the final point of the match down the line.

Ehlo had four of her match-leading 14 kills in the final game. The senior also had 18 digs.

“It feels good to finally beat them,” Ehlo said. “We had good communication and showed a lot of enthusiasm and it paid off. We definitely played better than we have against (Mead).”

Yearout had a standout performance, leading the Tigers with 19 assists and adding 18 digs. The junior is in an unusual situation. Her previous role with the team was outside hitter, but the team needed her to set this year, so she sets in the back row and hits in the front row.

“I can’t even put the feeling in to words,” Laurie Yearout said of the victory. “It was awesome and fun to be able to stay in the whole time and get a rhythm going. This is such a cool feeling.”

Bush, who also had four kills in the fifth game, was a major contributor for the Tigers, who head to state as the No. 1 seed from the region. The sophomore finished with 12 kills and four blocks.

GSL No. 4 Shadle Park surprised a few teams as well. Earlier in the day the Highlanders eliminated Columbia Basin League No. 2 Richland to earn a match against Gonzaga Prep for the final state berth.

The Bullpups won the first two games and the Highlanders captured the third game 25-17.

In the fourth game, G-Prep led 17-10. Shadle rallied late and won the game 26-24.

“Everybody got together and really stepped up and started playing hard,” Shadle coach Brooke Cooper said. “It really changed the momentum of the game.”

Which is precisely what the Highlanders did, winning the fifth and final game 15-13.

Brianne Brown had 18 kills, nine digs and three aces and teammate Alissa McCoy contributed nine digs and three blocks for Shadle.

The state tournament is Friday and Saturday in Kennewick. Mead and LC are on opposite sides of the bracket and are heavy favorites to meet in the state final.