Marcy Hjellum kept her emotions in check through interview after interview following her Kamiakin volleyball team's three-set loss to Lewis & Clark in Saturday night's 4A state final.
"I'm split on the inside, though," she said. "Sad and happy."
When her coach, Mary Opitz, finally emerged from underneath the Toyota Center stands where her team cubicle was, sadness finally won out. Opitz gave her senior outside hitter a huge hug, and the tears began flowing.
The Braves, in their first-ever state final, lost 25-12, 25-20, 25-22 to the Tigers, who had finished second at state the past two years to Mead and won their first title since 1994.
"Second in state, it's amazing," said Hjellum, who had seven kills and 11 digs in her final high school match. "It's the first time in school history for Kamiakin. All of us seniors are proud to be on the team that did this."
For LC, the victory maintained Spokane's dominance over the 4A ranks. Greater Spokane League teams have won 16 state titles, including the last six -- and for good measure, Shadle Park won the 3A title Friday night.
LC (27-1) was the only team to beat Kamiakin (33-5) in a best-of-5 match this season, needing five sets last week to best the Braves at regionals.
"We'd finished second the last two years, and we wanted it so bad this year," said LC senior Chloe Rowand, who had 18 kills and three blocks. "We deserved this."
In the 2A final, Tumwater avenged its loss in last year's championship match to Selah, dethroning the two-time titlists in four sets.
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Kamiakin's Armstrong wins state cross country (w/ galleries)
Kamiakin's Armstrong wins state cross country (w/ galleries)
PASCO -- Broken records and shattered dreams. Powerhouse programs and dethroned champions. Winning at the tape and victory by the mile.
Saturday's state cross country meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco had it all, plus more than a dash of local flavor to make the 2011 edition a big hit.
Anthony Armstrong, Kamiakin's standout senior who had won just about everything but a state cross country crown, finally got that elusive win in the day's most thrilling race.
State cross country championships, race by race
State cross country championships, race by race
PASCO -- Here is a race-by-race look at the 2011 Washington state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco:
4A boys
Last year, the team title slipped from the grasp of Spokane schools for the first time in 23 years. On Saturday, the trophy went back to the west side of the Cascades for the first time since 1986 as Gig Harbor topped defending champ Eisenhower 55-78.
Kamiakin cross country sweeps all-area honors (w/ photos)
Kamiakin cross country sweeps all-area honors (w/ photos)
KENNEWICK — It's Kamiakin's world; everyone else is just running in it.
In terms of the Mid-Columbia cross country scene, that's an apt description of this last fall season.
The Braves boys and girls not only dominated league meets -- at times placing their full squad of seven in the top 10 -- they performed well at the big races and brought home a bounty of state hardware.
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
Has another year gone by already?
Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
Has another year gone by already?
Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
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