The Centralia College volleyball team’s season came to an end on Saturday, as the Trailblazers lost two matches at the NWAC Regionals in Albany, Oregon.
Centralia lost its first match to Edmonds in four sets before falling in an elimination game against Wenatchee Valley in five.
“There were moments all day that could have gone either way,” Centralia College coach Ceanna Larson-Michalek said. “Unfortunately, it was not the outcome we had hoped for.”
In the matchup against Edmonds, Lyndzie Filla led the defensive effort with 16 digs, while Paige Miller had 13 kills and Morgan Rogerson and Cadence Gumanas both added 10.
In the second matchup against Wenatchee Valley, four Trailblazers finished with 10 or more digs, led by Filla’s 16, and Miller led the offensive attack with 26 kills. Avery Starr finished with 51 assists.
Though their season is over, the Trailblazers have plenty to be proud of.
Last season, in Larson-Michalek’s first year at the helm, they went 2-25. This year, the Trailblazers finished 18-13 and finished second in the NWAC West Region to qualify for the NWAC Tournament.
The 18 wins is more than the Trailblazers had won in the last five seasons combined.
“I’m beyond proud of our team and all we have accomplished together,” Larson-Michalek said. “Our girls were bought in this season and set out to change the culture of our program, and they absolutely succeeded.”
Plenty of individual players earned recognition for their seasons as well. Miller tallied over 500 kills on the year, and she earned NWAC West MVP honors, while Starr logged over 1,000 assists to earn a spot on the All-NWAC West First-Team.
Gumanas and Analiese Martin were named to the All-NWAC West Second-Team, and Rogerson earned third-team honors.
Larson-Michalek commended her sophomores — Ryli Gray, Evie Rooklidge, Josie Schultz, and Rogerson — saying they set the foundation for the program moving forward.
“We owe them big for seeing the vision I had for the program and digging in to make it happen,” Larson-Michalek said. “I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to be their coach and watch them grow.”
