Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
Images from a nonleague volleyball match between Napavine and Mossyrock at Napavine High School on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.
NAPAVINE — It was merely a nonleague volleyball match between the top two teams in the state here on Monday, but walking into Napavine’s gym, you would have thought you were at a state playoff game.
No. 1 Mossyrock and No. 2 Napavine battled for five sets, with the Tigers coming from down 2-1 to earn the final two sets and win 3-2 in a nonleague match.
“I’m just really proud of my team. They were very resilient and persistent. They fought hard and never gave up and worked hard to stay in the game,” Napavine coach Monica Dailey said. “They pushed hard and finished, it was super exciting to see. The fifth set was exciting to see, they came out and were really pumped, both teams played hard.”
Napavine’s Mollie Olson recorded 23 digs, 16 kills and eight block kills, Melissa Lee added 19 digs, 15 kills and three block kills and Abbi Music pitched in nine digs and served 100 percent on the night.
Ada Williams contributed 13 assists and Carly Oster served 100 percent for the Tigers.
The Vikings were rolling early, winning the first set 25-17. Napavine responded in the second set and took a 5-0 lead right out of the gate. Mossyrock battled back and led the set, 22-21, but the Tigers rallied to take the second set, 26-24.
Mossyrock was able to win the third set, 25-19. Napavine was down 6-1 in the fourth set, but battled back, though Mossyrock held a 22-20 lead trying to close out the match. With the Tiger crowd behind them, Napavine rallied to take the fourth set, 26-24.
The fifth set started out back and forth, but the Tigers eventually opened up a 11-7 lead. Mossyrock didn’t go away, cutting the lead to 14-13, but the Tigers earned the next point to take the match.
“They’re a very competitive team. We’ll meet them several more times this season. I’m glad to have an extra look at them so we’re prepared for when league comes around,” Mossyrock coach Alex Nelson said. “It’s a disappointing loss, but it came down to the end that they were ready to go. We missed some key serves there at the end. We’ll get a second chance at them.”
Mossyrock’s Andee Nelson had 15 kills and 11 digs, Paige Moorcroft recorded 12 kills and seven digs and Stephanie Fried added 22 digs and 10 kills. Ava Nelson added 52 assists and 18 digs for the Vikings.
“Mossy is a smart team. They have best setter I’ve ever seen in Ava (Nelson). She can turn a bad pass into something amazing,” Dailey said. “It was a lot of fun. We knew there was going to be a large crowd. We had a lot of people saying we’re coming to your game; there were other teams from other schools.
“It was a fun atmosphere to play in,” Dailey added. “It’s just really exciting to see a lot of fans from both sides and good to see communities coming together to support two teams ranked so high.”
The Vikings (4-1, 2-0 league) will try to bounce back today, hosting Pe Ell in a Central 2B League match while Napavine (7-0, 3-0 league) will try to keep the momentum going today, hosting Toutle Lake in a league contest.
