KENNEWICK -- For Summer Nash, the long journey to a state volleyball title ended up worth it.

Having to sit out last year after she transferred to Bishop Blanchet. The losses in the league and district championship matches the previous two weeks.

"I can easily forget it all now," the Braves senior said after Blanchet won its third 3A title in the last six years Saturday night, defeating Mount Spokane 15-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-14.

"This is a memory our team will share forever. We'll always have this between us. I'll never forget it."

Nash, named the tournament MVP, came up huge in rallying the Braves (28-5) after they were blitzed in the first set by the Wildcats (30-5), making their first-ever finals appearance.

The San Diego State-bound outside hitter had 28 kills and four blocks.

"We just didn't have an answer for her," said Mount Spokane coach John Reid. "Not many teams at this level would. It sure was fun to watch her play."

Blanchet followed its first-set loss by scoring the first six points of the second and building a 12-1 lead.

"That was really big, getting off to a good start in that set," said Braves coach Matt Chang, an assistant with the program's 2004 and 2006 state champs. "If we were going to come back, it had to be then, because giving a team like Mount Spokane a 2-0 lead would be asking for trouble."

The Wildcats fought back in the third set, tying the score five times from 18-18 forward, but they never were able to take the lead. Nash's soft kill down the line closed out the set for Blanchet, and she had back-to-back kills during a 5-0 run to open the fourth set.

"Summer really wanted it this week," Chang said. "We'd had a rough district tournament and a real rough league tournament, and that's not how this team plays. She knew it was time for her to step up, and she did."

Mount Spokane was vying to become the 19th Spokane state champion, but instead it became just the fourth GSL team to lose in the finals to a team outside the league.

"We lost only two (best-of-5) matches this year, and both were to state champions," said Reid, whose team fell in five to 4A titlist Mead in early September. "Experience plays a huge part in this. The girls are becoming comfortable being at state. Each year, we've done better and better."

And with their top players, outside hitters Annie Arnzen (14 kills, 12 digs) and Ixchelle Oleson, both sophomores and setter Kenzie Reid just a junior, Chang expects to see the Wildcats down the road at state again.

"They'lll be a real force," he said.

Prairie, led by senior setter and Oregon signee Camryn Irwin, came back from its five-set loss to Mount Spokane in the semifinals to defeat Mount Si 26-24, 27-25, 25-17 to place third.

Seattle Prep, which beat Blanchet in both the league and district finals, took fourth with a 26-24, 25-20, 25-20 victory over Mount Si.

Lakes improved one spot this year by placing fifth, beating Everett 20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-14 in the consolation final.