Columbia Basin College's volleyball team didn't make it to the NWAACC tournament this season.
But there are still plenty of Mid-Columbian connections when play begins at 9 a.m. today in Gresham, Ore.
First, there's Walla Walla, set to meet Olympic at 4:30 p.m. in the first round.
The Warriors' roster has five sophomores, including Kamiakin frontliner Laekynn Culpepper, who led Walla Walla (22-6) with 369 digs this season.
Walla Walla's Tim Toon was named East Region coach of the year, while Warriors middle blocker Brittany Dominguez and Spokane's Brigitte Lowe, an outside hitter, were named East Region co-MVPs.
Dominguez led the Warriors with 336 kills this season.
Blue Mountain, the defending champion, is also headed to the tournament, opening with Bellevue at 2 p.m..
Among those playing for the Timberwolves are sophomore middle blocker Page Woodward (Royal) and two freshmen from Kamiakin - defensive specialist Amanda Garner and outside hitter Tori Softich.
Yakima Valley will have two Mid-Columbians in the tournament - freshman setter Taylor Flores (Prosser) and freshman middle blocker Adriana Ramos (Grandview).
Highline will have Kamiakin freshman outside hitter Kourtney Fullmer playing.
* Also named to the East Region team is Walla Walla's Libby Kern at first-team middle blocker; Walla Walla's second-team setter Kayla Hanus; and CBC's second-team outside hitter Bailey Carlson.
* Meanwhile, the NWAACC released its other all-league teams.
In women's soccer, Pasco High grad Kaylie Winston was named the East Region MVP playing for Walla Walla.
Other WWCC all-stars include forward Sami Hansen, midfielders Kathryn Knowlton and Paige Sorensen (a Southridge grad); defenders Kahiesha Johnson (Hanford), Samantha Johnson and Heather Krebsbach; and keeper Courtney Hancock (Southridge).
Three CBC players made the team: midfielder Jessica Baken, and two defenders from Pasco High, Caitlyn Blundon and Missy Everson.
Michelle Galvan, a Sunnyside High grad playing defense at Yakima Valley, also made the squad.
On the men's side, three CBC Hawks made the all-star team -- defenders Jordan Jones and Merced Rodriguez (a Kennewick High grad), and midfielder Mike Chavez, another Kennewick High grad.
Walla Walla had two on the squad: midfielder Kentaro Bodzewski and defender Martin Ramirez, who graduated from Pasco High.
The one thing connecting both the men's and women's teams is Chad Bodnar. The Pasco High grad who coaches both the men's and women's teams at Walla Walla was named the coach of the year for both teams.
* CBC's baseball team is ranked 23rd in the American Baseball Coaches Association Junior College Pacific Associations Division preseason poll.
Santa Ana out of Southern California is ranked No. 1.
Other NWAACC teams in the top 25 are Bellevue (3), Lower Columbia (7), Mt. Hood (11), Pierce (15) and Edmonds (19).
