Mules 6th in district; head to state tourney

Assured a place at State, the Wahkiakum Mule volleyball team returned to Adna on Saturday to finish District play. They lost two matches to place sixth.

The Mules began their day with a loss to the Napavine Tigers in five games, 23-25, 25-14,19-25, 25-22, 9-15. They played well at times, out-pacing the Tigers early in the second game, and coming back from a big deficit in the fourth.

Tori Wegdahl had 13 kills and five aces, Baylee Olsen had 11 kills with only one error. Marissa Washington had a great match overall and finished with six kills.

“Overall, our play against Napavine was strong; we just weren’t able to finish,” said Coach Kayli Hurley. “That is something that’s been plaguing us all year. [Napavine]…just came in a bit stronger when it really counted.”

With little time to recover, the team returned to the floor to face the Toutle Lake Ducks and compete for fifth and sixth place trophies.

The weary Mules were outplayed. Unable to pick up any momentum, and faced with some powerful hitting from the Toutle team, they lost in three games, 25-20, 25-22, 25-11, placing sixth. Kaylee Bryant had a good match with aggressive play at the net, landing eight kills.

Defensive specialists Maya Stanley, Jem Dyer and Tyra Elliott played well, especially efficient on serve receive.

“The wheels just kind of came off against Toutle, who we’d beaten three times this season already,” said Coach Hurley. “We were lacking in intensity, energy and focus, three of the most important aspects of success in this sport when you are fatigued. All three of these things are mental, and the mental game is a part of the game we really need to shore up before State.”

The State B Volleyball tournament will take place at the Yakima SunDome this weekend. The Mules will meet Bear Creek out of Redmond in their first match at 11 a.m. on November 9.