KENNEWICK — One local volleyball team is going to earn a trophy this afternoon.
The Anacortes and Burlington-Edison volleyball teams will square off in the consolation portion of the Class 2A State Volleyball Tournament today, with the winner assured hardware of some sort, after each team split matches Friday on the first day of the tournament.
Burlington-Edison gave Selah an early jolt, but the three-time defending state champions were too scrappy on defense, winning 12-25, 25-20, 25-22, 27-25 in the second round.
“I think they were in shock that first game,” Tigers coach Tawnya Brewer said. “We came out really strong and took it to them that first game. They looked shell-shocked. Then they minimized their errors, made very few mistakes. We were pounding balls left and right and they were digging them up.”
Selah also knocked the Tigers out of the championship bracket a year ago, in five games that time.
The Tigers (17-2) reached the second round by winning their first match, 25-16, 25-12, 24-26, 25-21 over Hockinson.
Kinsey Davis had 61 kills and 13 blocks on the day for the Tigers. Rachel Tingley added 22 kills.
Cheryl Eubanks finished with 28 digs and Katlyn Mataya had 77 assists.
“I’m disappointed in the outcome, but definitely not in how they played,” Brewer said. “They did everything they could. Selah just came out on top. It was like a state championship match, for the second year in a row.”
A little later in the evening, the Seahawks were knocked into the consolation bracket by Black Hills 25-8, 23-25, 26-24, 25-16.
Anacortes (14-6) started the day with a marathon 27-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-25, 15-6 victory over a previously unbeaten North Mason squad that won the West Central District Title.
“We looked great in the first game and came out with a win,” Anacortes coach Ashley Abrams said. “Tonight we played well at times, but it was really up and down.”
The teams will square off in a match scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the winner playing in the match for fourth and seventh places later in the evening.
Burlington-Edison beat the Seahawks in four games in the teams’ Northwest Conference meeting this season.
“I’m sure the girls are excited,” Abrams said. “It’s a whole different playing field here. Anything can happen.”
• Results reported by area coaches
