Lady Mules 4th at district, head to state tourney

The Wahkiakum Lady Mule volleyball team placed fourth in the Southwest Washington Class B volleyball tournament last week and will play in the state meet this week in Yakima.

The Mules won a coin toss to claim the Central League's second place berth in the district tournament. They opened the tournament Wednesday with a 3-1, 25-9, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23 over the Mossyrock Vikings in the quarterfinals.

Jordyn Wirkkala had 18 service points and eight kills. Sarah Doumit had 12 service points and nine kills; Blaine Land made eight kills, and setter Paige Kehrli made 26 assists.

The win put them in a semifinal match with South Bend, and they lost 25-20, 25-16, 25-16 to drop into the consolation bracket.

The Mules met Ocosta and won 19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17 to earn a state berth.

The Mules met Mossyrock in the battle for third and fourth places, and this time the Vikings won.

Wahkiakum was swept in the semifinals by South Bend 25-20, 25-16, 25-16, but bounced back to eliminate Ocosta 19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17 to earn a state berth. The Mules took fourth place after falling to Mossyrock 25-23, 25-16, 25-20.

Doumit finished the tournament with 27 kills. Shelby Deaton had 17 kills and 10 blocks, and Land had 13 kills. Kehrli made 66 assists and had 26 service points.

The Mules will take on Tekoa-Oakesdale at 2:30 p.m. today in their opening match in the state tournament. The tournament runs today (Thursday) and Friday in the Yakima Sundome.