Thursday's Prep Volleyball: Bearcats Fall Flat at R.A. Long

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LONGVIEW — W.F. West dropped a non-league volleyball match to R.A. Long in four sets here at the Lumberdome on Thursday by scores of 20-25, 28-26, 12-25, and 25-18.

The Bearcats led for most of the first set before the Lumberjills chipped away and ultimately logged the victory. The Bearcats showed off their potential most efficiently during the second set as they endured 14 ties to earn the overtime victory and even the series up at one game each.

Ashlyn Whalen led W.F. West with nine kills in the match and Sydney VonMoos added six kills. Payge Crawford tallied six digs and four service aces for the Bearcats.

Despite a pair of losses to open up the season, W.F. West coach Emily Mora believes her team is poised to keep improving in time for the games that really matter.

“I feel like our highlights tonight were stronger than Tuesday’s highlights, which is a great place to be in preseason,” Mora said. “We’re not playing for a state championship right now. We’re working out the kinks. Figuring out a lineup. We have a lot of utility players and we’re working out who plays best at what positions.”

W.F. West (0-2) will host Mark Morris on Monday.

Toledo Takes Down Hoquiam

TOLEDO — Toledo took on 1A Hoquiam here on Thursday and battled their way to a 3-1 win in a non-league volleyball match.

The Indians won the first set 25-16, but dropped the second set 25-22 as Hoquiam evened the match. Toledo bounced back in a big way with a 25-7 third set victory and wrapped up the match with a 25-17 fourth set win.

Stacie Spahr recoded six kills and Rylee Piler added four kills. Haleigh Holmes and Sandra Spahr each had three kills for the Indians.

“(I think they played) really well. That second set, they let down just a little bit but they came back and recovered and played hard the last two sets,” Toledo coach Candace Maier said.

Toledo (1-0) will compete in the Adna tournament beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday.



Pirates Comeback Falls Short Against Willapa Valley

ADNA — The Pirates battled back from an 0-2 hole against Willapa Valley but couldn’t complete the comeback as the Vikings earned a 3-2 win over Adna in a non-league volleyball match here on Thursday.

Willapa Valley won the first two sets, 25-14 and 25-13. Adna was able to dig deep and battle back, earning the third and fourth sets 25-22 and 25-17 to push the match to a fifth set. The Vikings were able to regain control and take the match, 15-8.

Adna coach Wendie Dotson noted the play of Emma Eko in the back row for the Pirates, playing a new position and playing well. Dotson also commended Maddie Kleemeyer at the service stripe and Ryann Wilson and Elisha Giese in the front row.

“It will be a good opportunity for us to try and figure out good team chemistry in positions we’re trying to work out,” Dotson said. “We have a lot of new girls. I was very pleased down two games, they were able to come back and win the next two. We have a good core of girls supportive of each other.”

Adna (0-1) will host the Adna Tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Rainier Sweeps Pe Ell

RAINIER — The Mountaineers made quick work of the Trojans here on Thursday as Rainier won 3-0 in a non-league volleyball match.

Rainier won with set scores of 25-7, 25-13 and 25-5.

“I felt like Presley Peterson, our libero, she did well on defense. We just struggled to put anything together,” Pe Ell coach Karie Cleveland said. “We’re looking forward to our tournament this weekend to work out those kinks.”

Pe Ell (0-1) will compete in the Adna tournament on Saturday.