Central Valley captures first GSL volleyball title

It took nearly 40 years, but the Central Valley Bears can finally raise the banner as Greater Spokane League volleyball champion.

Senior Kazlyn Roullier had 12 kills and four blocks, and senior Kara Nitteberg added 20 digs and three aces as the host Bears (23-1-1, 9-0 GSL) held off University 25-20, 21-25, 25-13, 25-22 to cap the league season.

“It’s pretty incredible,” said Roullier, who took over the third game with two kills, two tips and a block during an 8-0 run. “We definitely made history with the first time Central Valley has won the GSL, so it’s a great accomplishment.”

“I’m excited for them,” second-year Bears coach Amanda Bailey said. “They have a lot of dedicated fans and a lot of dedicated players, so I’m happy that they get their first GSL title.”

The Bears, who lost to U-Hi 3-2 last season, rallied in the fourth game after trailing 21-16.

“We started encouraging each other that we could do this,” CV junior Hannah Reiman said. “After a timeout we said, ‘together,’ and after that we started cheering each other on. We got back together as a team and we started pushing and pushing.”

CV earned the right to host the final four games of the District 8 4A tournament. The tourney begins Thursday with No. 5 Lewis and Clark (4-5) at No. 4 Mead (6-3) in a loser-out match. The winner plays CV at 10 a.m. Saturday. No. 2 U-Hi plays No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (7-2) at noon. The title match is set for 2 p.m., with both teams advancing to regionals, and the No. 3 team to regionals will be decided at 5.

“We’d love to have another opportunity with CV and we hope it comes down to that on Saturday,” said second-year coach Mike Summers, whose Titans tied for the league title last season.

“We really haven’t had a lot of ups and downs,” Bailey said. “We’ve been playing really solid, so we hoped that that would benefit us today.”

U-Hi (24-3, 8-1) played without starting OH Kendall Collins, who sprained her ankle last week against Mead. Summers said Collins’ ankle is improving, but her status for district is uncertain.

Also in the GSL, Kaitlyn Streltzoff totaled 14 kills and 12 digs as host Mt. Spokane (5-4) rallied for a 3-2 win over Shadle Park (3-6). Josie Walser led Shadle with 29 assists. The Wildcats earned the No. 1 seed and the right to host Saturday’s District 8 3A tournament. No. 2 Shadle will meet No. 3 Rogers (1-8) at 1 p.m. for a spot in the title match and automatic regional berth. … Rogers rallied to knock off host North Central in five sets, keeping the Indians (0-9) from a district berth. Mikayla Risinger led the Pirates with 33 digs and three aces. Megan Dean had 27 digs and five blocks for the Indians, while Malia Conant and Keli Orr recorded 16 assists each. … G-Prep posted a 3-0 home win over Ferris (2-7). Marie Adams finished with seven digs, five blocks and two aces for G-Prep, and Tess Beschel had 22 assists and seven digs. Haley Carl had 10 kills and two blocks for the Saxons. … Hannah Absalonson had 25 assists and four aces, and Payton Douglass added 14 digs as Mead defeated visiting LC 3-0 in a matchup that will be replayed Thursday at district. Mary Stoa led LC with 22 assists and nine digs.

• Jordan Phelan had 13 kills and Emily Sior totaled three aces and 33 assists as host East Valley (12-0) wrapped up a perfect Great Northern League season with a 3-0 win over Clarkston (4-8). EV will host Saturday’s District 7 2A tournament and will play at 4 p.m. in the title game for seeding to regionals. In loser-out play, No. 2 Pullman (7-5) will meet No. 5 West Valley (1-11) at 10 a.m., and No. 3 Cheney (6-6) will meet No. 4 Clarkston at noon. The winners will meet at 2 p.m. for a regional berth and the right to play EV. … Elsewhere, Katelyn Smedley had 14 assists and 11 digs, and Cheney pulled out a victory at Pullman. Rylie Pease added 10 kills and four aces for Cheney. Chelsea Bone had 27 assists and four aces for the Greyhounds.