Mules split two matches, start playoffs Monday

The Wahkiakum Mule varsity volleyball team split another pair of matches with Central League opponents this past week.

Last Thursday, the Mules swept Morton/White Pass in straight sets. Scores were 25-14, 25-23, 25-18.

At the net, Blaine Land had 12 kills; Amy Gawith had five kills, and Ashley Silva and Caitlin Nicolazzi added two kills apiece. Nicolazzi had three blocks and five soft blocks.

Madison LaBerge and Brieanna Olsen led the team in service points and serving percentage. Land and Brieanna Olsen each made 18 assists.

On Tuesday, visiting Pe Ell used a powerful net game to sweep the Mules by scores of 13-25, 18-25, 17-25.

"Pe Ell is one of the most athletic teams in our league, and they have some quality blockers and hitters," said Mule Coach Jeff Rooklidge. "We really struggled tonight with our defense."

Leading hitters were Land with nine kills, Nicolazzi seven, Marissa Washington six, and Olsen and Rachel Patching two each. Olsen made 19 assists.

" Brianne Helms was our top passer on the night.," Rooklidge said. "She led us in digs and did a good job reading in the back row."

The match was the last at home for the Mules' seniors, Nicolazzi and statistician Shelby Felton.

The Mules record is 7-6. They play at league-leading Toutle Lake today (Thursday) in the regular season finale.

Rooklidge said they likely will finish fifth in the Central League and open post season playoffs Monday against the Pacific League's fourth place team, which was 6-5 Willapa Valley at the start of the week. The game would be at Toutle Lake, 5:30 p.m. The winner advances to play Toutle Lake at 7 p.m. that same evening.

In a related match Naselle, the likely Pacific fifth place team, plays the Central's fourth, Pe Ell, 5:30 p.m. at NW Christian. The winner advances to play NW Christian that same evening at 7 p.m. The next session of matches will be November 3, with championship November 5, all at Adna or Napavine.

League standings as of Monday were

Central Pacific

Toutle Lake 11-1 NW Christian 10-0

Adna 9-3 South Bend 9-1

Mossyrock 8-4 Raymond 6-5

Pe Ell 8-4 Willapa Valley 6-5

Wahkiakum 7-5 Naselle 3-7

Napavine 3-9 Ocosta 1-9

Mort./W. Pass 2-10 North Beach 1-9

Winlock 0-12