Centralia’s volleyball season came to an end on Tuesday night, as the Tigers fell in straight sets to Tumwater.
McKenna Smith led the way with 11 digs, 10 assists, and four block assists, while Payton Baumel added three kills and three blocks. Hollynn Wakefield finished with four kills, while Mikaela Marazita added three blocks.
Baumel, Smith, Wakefield, Makenzie Erickson, and Chloe Bonomi were all perfect from the service line.
“We felt like (the sets) were a lot closer than they were,” Centralia coach Marti Smith said. “We came out, fought hard, played hard, there was no quit in any of them. Every player got to get in and play, and everybody who stepped on that floor did something positive for us.”
It’s a quicker end than the Tigers would have hoped for, as they’ll miss the district tournament. Smith still had nothing but positive things to say, however, especially about her seniors — Annette Villegas, Madison Breckel, Natalia Hedgers, Baumel, Bonomi, Marazita, and Wakefield.
“They were just such a great group,” Smith said. “They’ve been such a great group to work with.”
Smith gave extra credit to this group, which lost much of its middle school career due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They were coming into their high school seasons behind in development,” Smith said. “They didn’t back down, they played to their strengths, and they just knew how to make the season fun.”
Centralia finishes its season 4-11 and 2-8 in 2A EvCo play. Tumwater (13-2, 9-0 2A EvCo) will look to complete its second perfect league season in a row on Thursday in Aberdeen.
