Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008

Tumwater outlasts Selah for title

By Kevin Anthony, Herald staff writer

The Tumwater Thunderbirds didn't just think they were due, they were certain of it.

Three times in three years they had run up against Selah in a state volleyball tournament, and all three times the Vikings had pretty well whomped them, including a sweep in last year's 2A championship.

So here Tumwater was Saturday night, back at Toyota Center in the 2A title match, with Selah again standing in the way of the program's first state championship.

This time, however, the Thunderbirds had one thing the Vikings did not: a dominant player in the middle who can flat take over.

Alex Sele, a long-armed middle who plays even taller than her 6-foot frame, stole Selah's early momentum with a thunderous second set that propelled the T-Birds to a 15-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-12 victory.

"We were tired of getting beat by Selah, I tell you what," said Tumwater coach Tana Croft. "They run such a quick offense and pick apart your defense."

Sele, who will ply her skills at the University of Idaho next fall, finished with match highs of 19 kills and four blocks. Her biggest moments came during that crucial second set when she piled up eight kills.

The Vikings (19-1), who had swept their title matches the previous three seasons, looked like they might make quick work of Tumwater (21-0) in this one as well with a convincing opener.

But Sele pounded down three kills in a matter of five points for an 11-9 lead, then accounted for five of her team's final seven points to close out the set.

By then, the Tumwater express was at full steam.

"We set our goals at the beginning of the year, and our ultimate goal was a state championship," Sele said. "We won league, we won districts, we won the academic title, and now state. There's nothing better."

Kierstin Wilson led Selah with 17 kills and Erin Smith added 11 more despite an injured ankle. They were the only two returning players from last year's team.

"At the beginning of the year, we set two goals: winning league and winning state," said Vikings coach Kay Aberle, who came out of a one-year retirement when her previous replacement, Darcy Scheidt, took a job outside of the Yakima district in June. "At the time I was a little worried about that, but I was glad they set such high standards."

Lynden (19-2) claimed third place with a 25-21, 25-16, 26-24 win over Black Hills (16-5) for the Lions' best finish since taking second in the 3A tournament in 1999.

Neither of the Mid-Columbia teams made the medal rounds, with Grandview's tournament ended by a 3-1 loss to Pullman (18-2, fourth place) and Othello's in straight sets by Mark Morris.

Grandview (14-5), making it ninth straight state trip and 11th in 12 years, saw its run of five consecutive trophy finishes end with a 25-13, 26-28, 25-16, 25-17 loss to Pullman, making its seventh straight state trip.

Kinzi Poteet unofficially led Grandview with 15 kills, and Sydney Mottice added 10, including four during a key stretch in the second set that allowed her team to get back in contention for the match.

But Pullman's multi-hitter attack exposed more than a few holes in Grandview's defense.

The first state tournament for Othello (12-9) ended in the afternoon with a 25-19, 26-24, 25-20 loss to Mark Morris (18-3, eighth place) in the first round of the consolation bracket.

Monarchs standout hitter Rebecca Haight collected 23 kills in the match to top her own school record for the season (328).