For a second consecutive season, the Kennewick volleyball team is going to the Class 3A state tournament.
The Lions bounced back from a semifinal loss Saturday to defeat Kamiakin 25-20, 26-24, 25-15 to earn the third seed from the Class 3A Eastern Washington Regional Tournament.
"It is really exciting," Kennewick coach Julie Maciboba said. "Now I can experience state as a coach -- I never did as a player."
The Lions dominated the Braves after beating them twice in the regular season in four sets.
The win was especially impressive after Kennewick opened the day with a disappointing 26-24, 25-19, 25-20 loss to Mount Spokane.
"We worked a lot this week on how we are reacting quick on plays," Maciboba said, "so that if we make an error, we are not hanging our heads. So, I think we used after the loss. We went into the locker room and told them we had to move on. We had a big match ahead of us. Kamiakin had been playing very well and we knew it was going to be a tough game."
Meghan McIntyre had 18 kills and 18 digs to lead the Lions. Maddie Zinsli added 50 assists and nine digs and Carlee Rhodes had 17 kills on the day.
For Kamiakin it was an up-and-down day, kind of like its 2011 season.
The Braves started the day by handing West Valley just its third set loss of the season, but couldn't quite sustain the push against the top-ranked Rams.
"We had West Valley on their heels," Kamiakin coach Mary Opitz said. "They were pretty shocked at what was going on. We battled in the second one, but West Valley is a real steady team."
West Valley went on to sweep Mount Spokane and claim the regional title. Both teams qualified for state.
Laura Phillips led Kamiakin with 45 assists, 13 digs and was 26-of-27 serving. Alexis Scott added 19 kills, 38 digs and was 25-of-27 serving with two aces.
"My girls are proud of how they did," Optiz said. "And they should be."
Combined statistics
Kamiakin--Laura Phillips 45 assts, 13 digs, 26x27 srv, 1 ace; Alexis Scott 25x27 srv, 2 aces, 19 kills, 38 digs; Libby Davison 18x18 srv, 12 kills, 21 digs; Amanda Miller 12 kills; Kayla Emineth 14x15 srv, 36 dig; Abby Blanchard 8 kills.
Kennewick--Megan McIntyre 18 kills, 18 digs, 2 aces; Torie Szendre 9 kills, 5 blks; Carlee Rhodes 17 kills; Sophie Clinton 9 kills, 3 blks; Maddie Zinsli 50 assts, 9 digs; Lizzy Ridley 15 digs, 4 aces; Brittany Evans 18 digs, 2 aces; Kelly Dyer 13 digs.
Class 4A: Mead, Wenatchee and Central Valley all earned state berths at the Eastern Washington Regional in Spokane.
Central Valley rallied past Walla Walla in the third-place match, winning 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 25-22, 15-12 to earn the final state berth.
Mead swept Wenatchee 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 in the championship match.
Class 1A
The SCAC East had a rough go at the SCAC district tournament at Zillah High School and Middle School.
Naches Valley eliminated Connell and Goldendale eliminated River View in consolation semifinals, as the SCAC West took all three berths to the Class 1A state tournament next weekend.
Zillah swept La Salle in the championship match, while Naches Valley defeated Goldendale in five for the third state berth.
Connell opened the day with a five-set victory against Columbia-Burbank, as Megan Booker had 11 kills, seven digs and three aces for the Eagles. Nataly Aguilar led the Coyotes with 14 kills, 11 blocks and 12 digs.
"Even though we lost, I felt we played strong and finished well," Coyotes coach Joleen Calzadillas said.
Connell then lost to Naches Valley in four sets, as Michelle Schultz was 12-of-13 serving with an ace, with 13 digs, 16 kills and two blocks.
"They played with heart and soul tonight," Connell coach Kate Johnson said. "They had a great season and I'm proud of them as a team and how they played."
River View ended Kiona-Benton's season in an epic five-set match, as the final set finished 22-20.
Rachel Hull led the Panthers with 17 assists, two aces and was 30-of-31 serving against Kiona-Benton.
"They put their heart and soul into the Ki-Be game," River View coach Chanda Raymen said. "They really wanted that win and got it. My seniors should be proud. They were all in that last game and just kept going, nailing away and got that 22nd point.
"I'm awfully proud of them. They had a great season, and a fun season."
The Panthers lost in three to Goldendale to see their season come to an end.
Connell def. Columbia Burbank 14-25, 25-12, 20-25, 25-22, 15-5: here. Columbia Burbank--Shelby Wallace 6 kills; Harley McBride 9 kills, 5 blks; Nataly Aguilar 14 kills, 11 blks, 12 digs; Jaky Calzadillas 23 assts, 5 kills, 12x12 srv, 15 digs; Danielle Reardon 5 kills, 16x18 srv, 19 digs. Connell--Kylie Booker 7x7 srv, 1 ace, 1 dig, 6 kills, 2 blks; Michelle Schultz 8x8 srv, 1 ace, 12 digs, 8 kills; Megan Booker 21x22 srv, 3 aces, 7 digs, 11 kills; Whitney Jones 21x21 srv, 3 aces, 9 digs; Paxton Carlisle 1 ace, 23 assts, 5 kills, 1 blk.
Naches Valley def. Connell 29-27, 23-25, 28-26, 25-21.
Connell--Booker 9x10 srv, 2 digs, 6 kills, 4 blks; Michelle Schultz 12x13 srv, 1 ace, 13 digs, 16 kills, 2 blks; M. Booker 15x16 srv, 1 ace, 4 digs, 8 kills; Jones 16x17 srv, 1 ace, 15 digs, 1 asst; Carlisle 35 assts, 4 digs, 4 kills, 1 blk.
River View def. Kiona-Benton 25-9, 20-25, 20-25, 25-17, 22-20: here. River View--Haley Hess 16x16 srv, 5 kills; Kim Gier 15x16 srv, 1 ace, 7 kills; Amber McCoy 12x15 srv, 3 aces, 9 kills; Rachel Hull 30x31 srv, 2 aces, 17 assts; Jessica Sems 8x11 srv, 1 ace, 5 digs; Abbey Prunier 5x6 srv, 1 ace.
Goldendale def. River View 25-18, 25-15, 25-10. River View--Rachel Hull 10 assts, 13x14 srv; Haley Hess 7x9 srv, 1 ace; Amber McCoy 5 kills.
Class 2B: Abby Larreau had 35 kills and 10 blocks on the day as DeSales beat Dayton and Waitsburg-Prescot in four sets apiece to emerge triumphant with the No. 2 state seed Saturday at the Southeast 2B district tournament.
DeSales def. Dayton 25-9, 25-21, 9-25, 25-21. DeSales--Abby Larreau 19 kills, 5 blks; Annie Higgins 8 kills, 23, digs, 16x16 srv, 3 aces; Stephanie Ferrel 5 kills, 29 digs; Claire Conley 8 kills; Chantel Blanc 41 assts.
DeSales def. Waitsburg-Prescott 25-13, 17-25, 25-17, 25-17. DeSales--Larreau 16 kills, 5 blks, 11x11 srv; Higgins 8 kills, 17x17 srv, 25 digs; Ferrel 5 kills, 25 digs, 22x22 srv, 3 aces; Conley 7 kills, 3 blks; Blanc 28 assts.
