Richland need a pick-me-up late in the fourth set Saturday, and sophomore Lauren Balone did just that.
Balone had two kills, a few nice passes and then blocked a hit for match point to help lead the Bombers to a 25-20, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23 victory against Chiawana in the Class 4A District 5 tournament title match at Richland High.
“We were struggling to catch up in Game 4, and she had a couple of kills, passed a couple of good passes and then got the block,” Richland coach Bob Raidl said.
Alisha Bettinson led the Bombers with 15 kills, nine aces and 26 digs as her team beat the Riverhawks for a third time this season.
Richland and Chiawana advance to the Class 4A Eastern Washington regional tournament Saturday at Richland. The Bombers will face top-ranked Mead (13-0), with the winner earning a state berth, while Chiawana will play Central Valley (9-6) in an elimination match.
Earlier on Saturday, the Riverhawks fended off a feisty Pasco team in five sets.
The loss ended Pasco’s season, despite Sierra Linke’s 18 kills, 17 digs, two blocks and 7-of-10 serving.
“The kids played hard,” Pasco coach Kylie Sixkiller-Bossert said. “Even though they lost, they competed and made a good match of it.”
Set scores: Richland def. Chiawana 25-20, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23. Richland—Alisha Bettinson 15 kills, 9 aces, 26 digs; Tori Long 9 kills, 2 aces, 4 blocks; Hailey Turner 6 kills, 2 blocks; Peyton Wahl 1 ace, 32 digs; Kelly Breard 5 kills, 9 digs; Elizabeth Quick 4 kills, 3 blocks; Lauren Balone 2 kills, 1 block, 2 digs. Chiawana—Shantelle Hill 13 kills, 24 digs; Jaymee Steach 32 assists, 15 digs, 4 aces; Delaney Hodgins 7 kills, 10 digs; Megan Steach 8 kills; Alex Johnson 17 digs, 4 aces
Set scores: Chiawana def. Pasco 22-25, 25-7, 25-18, 26-28, 15-4. Pasco—Sierra Linke 18 kills, 17 digs, 2 blocks, 7-of-10 serving; Lindsey Scott 4 kills, 8-of-10 serving, 1 ace, 2 blocks; Bibiana Gonzalez 3 kills, 3 blocks; Carina Sullivan 4 kills, 9 digs, 8-of-9 serving; Marisol Diaz 44 digs, 15-of-16 serving; Brenda Robison 14 digs, 18-of-18 serving, 2 aces; Cameron Estes 28 assists, 15 digs, 13-of-14 serving, 2 aces. Chiawana—Shantelle Hill 24 kills, 21 digs; Maddie Heine 10 kills, 4 blocks; Jaymee Steach 47 assists, 19 digs, 6 aces; Delaney Hodgins 7 kills, 19 digs; Madison Powers 4 kills, 3 blocks; Alex Johnson 31 digs, 26-of-27 serving
Southridge 3, Shadle Park 0: Kimberley Brinkworth was unstoppable in the middle, leading the Suns to a sweep in a Class 3A Eastern Washington regional elimination match.
Brinkworth had 16 kills and six blocks in the victory, while Kylie Fraga had 45 assists, 11 digs and five kills.
“They could not match up on Kimberley in the middle,” Southridge coach John Lengphounpraseut said. “Our passing game was probably the best we’ve had all season. That was the thing that kept us in.”
Southridge (19-7) will face University (12-4) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Spokane High School in another elimination match.
Set scores: 25-22, 25-21, 25-19. Road team—leaders here. Home team—Kimberley Brinkworth 16 kills, 6 blocks; Emma Spurlock 15 kills; Jordyn Mix 8 kills, 8 digs; Makenna Barron 21 digs; Rylee Russell 20 digs; Kylie Fraga 45 assists, 11 digs, 5 kills; Alyssa Palmer 6 kills, 21 digs
Mt. Spokane 3, Hanford 0: The visiting Falcons were swept in a Class 3A Eastern Washington regional match, despite eight kills and four blocks by Nikki Eldred.
Set scores: 25-10, 25-10, 25-20. Road team—Nikki Eldred 8 kills, 4 blocks; Alina Olsen 4 kills, 3 blocks; Bailee Drussel 13 assists; Reilee Williams 4 blocks.
UNIVERSITY 3, KENNEWICK 0: Maddie Zinsli had 16 assists and Kelly Dyer had 12 digs, but the Lions fell on the road to the Titans in a Class 3A Eastern Washington regional match.
Set scores: 25-11, 25-16, 25-19. Kennewick—Maddie Zinsli 16 assists, 4 kills; Kelly Dyer 12 digs; Lizzy Ridley 13 digs; Carlee Rhodes 10 digs; Missy Berney 11 digs.
