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KENNEWICK -- At last weekend's 4A Eastern Regional tournament, Mead coach Judy Kight celebrated her 500th career victory in the title match.
And if her Panthers continue playing as they did Thursday in the first two rounds of the 4A state championships at Toyota Center, the 20-year coach will have another milestone to celebrate: a seventh state title.
The Panthers, who have yet to lose to a Washington opponent this season, romped past Tahoma 25-15, 25-13, 25-12, and Olympia 25-9, 25-16, 25-12 to reach this afternoon's semifinals.
The win over Olympia avenged a quarterfinal loss to the Bears last year that ended Mead's 22-match state win streak that included five titles.
"We were so excited to get them," said senior Alexis Olgard, the USC-bound middle hitter who had 13 kills and six blocks in the quarterfinal win. "We held a grudge, and we wanted a big win. To get them in three is even better."
Next up for the Panthers is a 3:30 p.m. match against Graham-Kapowsin, which survived a five-set quarterfinal against Skyview -- which earlier had beaten Southridge in five sets in its tournament opener.
The championship match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Eagles recovered after losing a 2-0 lead, beating the Storm 25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 14-25, 15-10.
"Yeah, we wanted (Mead)," said G-K senior Kayla Reno, a big smile creasing her face. "They're a good team, but we're a good team, too. We're excited. It should be a good match."
Reno, who signed with Montana, led the Eagles with 25 kills and 22 digs.
Her future Grizzlies teammate, Brooke Bray of Auburn Riverside, followed up her school-record 53-kill performance in a five-set, first-round win over Richland with a relatively modest 21 kills in a three-set romp over West Central District rival Kentwood, 25-16, 25-18, 25-11.
"We weren't expecting it to be an easy match," Bray said. "But it was definitely nice winning in three. We were all tired after that first match. That was one of the longest matches I'd ever played, but it was a good one."
AR, which finished second at state in 2007 as a 3A school, gets another WCD rival in today's semifinals in two-time district champion Curtis, which ousted defending state champion Lewis & Clark 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-13.
"We knew they lost eight seniors, but you can't underestimate any team at this level," said Curtis senior Emily Cotter, who had 22 kills and 16 digs. "We knew we had to come out here, be strong and not back down. We're starting a tradition ourselves, and hopefully this tradition can continue awhile."
LC, like Mead a year ago, bounced back in the fourth-place semifinals and beat Kentwood in four sets. The Tigers will play Olympia in the trophy round this evening, while Issaquah -- which eliminated Richland in the consolation bracket -- and Jackson will play for fifth and eighth places.
