Here’s why CBC volleyball is back on track in the NWAC

There is something special brewing on the volleyball court at Columbia Basin College.

The Hawks went from not qualifying for the NWAC Tournament last year, to being tied for fourth in the latest coaches poll.

“In the spring, we decided we wanted to win and change the culture of the program, and the attitude,” sophomore outside hitter Meli Matautia said. “Coach Tim (Davison) knows his stuff and how to get us to our goal we set in the spring.”

CBC (26-7), which finished second in the East Region to North Idaho, will face Whatcom (14-17) at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the first round of the NWAC tournament at Greater Tacoma Convention Center.

“We played them early on and beat them in two,” Davison said of the Orcas. “They are not as big as we are, but they are quick and are solid defensively.”

The Hawks are on the opposite side of the bracket from North Idaho but could face top-ranked Chemeketa (25-4) if they both win their first two matches.

“Chemeketa has been very successful this year,” Davison said. “At this stage, if you eliminate the No. 4 seeds, everyone is tough. I feel strongly that we are going to have to earn our points. The nice thing about the East is that every team is solid. It was a dogfight all the way through, but that prepares us for the tournament.”

The Hawks put together a solid regular season, finishing 13-3 in the East Region with two losses to North Idaho and one to Blue Mountain.

“It has been a good, solid year,” Davison said. “I like it from the standpoint we are running a pretty sophisticated offense. It is faster than what a lot of teams run. We like to know what we are running, and like that they don’t.

“We have a lot of hitters on this team, more than we have had in the past. Our bench is strong — we play nine of our 11 pretty regularly. Most of our players hit in a variety of places, which confuses our opponents.”

The Hawks are led by first-team All-East Region players Brooke Swanson (setter) and Kyrsten Whitmore (middle) from Kiona-Benton High School. Matuatia was named to the second team.

Swanson has 750 assists this season, along with 151 digs, 37 kills and 19 service aces.

“They make it pretty easy,” Swanson said. “They are reliable and they work with what I give them.”

The 6-foot-2 Whitmore has 154 kills and 71 blocks to her credit, while freshman Jesse Sydney leads the team with 241 kills, and Matautia has 222.

“The flexibility has taken us where we are today,” Whitmore said of the sharing of duties at the net. “If someone is struggling, you can switch them up.”

The Hawks are looking for good things this weekend, but no matter the outcome, they are proud of what they have accomplished this season.

“We have made waves and left our mark,” Whitmore said.

WALLA WALLA: The Warriors will take on Edmonds (25-15) at 9 a.m. Thursday in the first round of action.

Walla Walla (32-15), which finished third in the East Region, features three Mid-Columbia players, led by sophomore libero Hannah Pond (Bickleton/Grandview), who was a first-team East Region selection. Also on the team are freshman libero Emily Hedine (Walla Walla) and sophomore outside hitter Ashlin Orosco (Pasco).

HONORS: Kamiakin graduate Rachel Leshikar was named to the East Region second team as a libero. The North Idaho sophomore ranks fourth in the NWAC with 4.54 digs per set. On the season, she has 436 digs, 45 assists and 27 service aces. The Cardinals will open the NWAC tournament at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against Shoreline.

▪ Former Kamiakin player Carlee Rowell was a first-team North Region selection for Bellevue. Rowell, a 5-7 freshman middle, had 97 kills, 28 blocks and 18 aces. Bellevue will play Spokane at 2 p.m. Thursday.

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Here’s why CBC volleyball is back on track in the NWAC."