Mules claim district volleyball title

The Wahkiakum Lady Mule volleyball team moved into postseason play as a number four seed, swept all their matches and earned a berth at this year's state tournament by taking first place in the district tournament.

Last Thursday, they traveled to Raymond to play Adna in a semifinal game. The Mules won in three, 25-19, 25-21 and 28-26.

“Almost all of my hitters were on fire and passers were on point,” said Coach Kayli Hurley. “My team’s passing average was 2.12 out of three, which is very efficient for an overall average. It was a good team effort with a ton of energy and enthusiasm from both the bench and the girls on the court to move us on to the district final.”

Tori Wegdahl had 19 kills and Baylee Olsen had 14. Kaylee Bryant had seven kills and Madison LaBerge chipped in two more. Tyra Elliott, Jem Dyer, Maya Stanley, Wegdahl and LaBerge all had high passing averages according to Hurley. Setter Morgan Elliott made 36 assists.

On Saturday, the Lady Mules traveled back to Raymond to face Morton/White Pass in the district championship match. The Mules lost the first game, 24-26, but with a momentum shift, hard work and patience, they bested the Timberwolves, winning the next three 25-21, 25-21, and 26-24.

"We came out with a serious case of jitters," Hurley said. "I think my girls were feeling the pressure and dropped the first set after working hard to gain some momentum back after an eight point deficit to begin the set (10-2). In the second set we seemed to be able to put a few more things together on serve receive, we converted to offense and won the next three sets."

Wegdahl led the team with 18 kills. Olsen had eight, and Bryant and Kennedi LaBerge each added four more.

"At the fourth set we were down 21-24," Hurley said. "Kaylee Bryant did a great job at the line, serving us back to a lead and a win. The rest of the team focused on doing their jobs and keeping her on the service line. There was a huge push to work for each point in the end of the fourth set. It took a lot of efficiency, effort and heart, and the girls put in the work to get it done. I was very proud of them."

The Lady Mules face the Asotin Panthers on November 15 at 8 a.m in the Yakima Valley SunDome. They and 15 other teams will compete for the title and seven other places this Friday and Saturday at the Washington State 2B Volleyball tournament in Yakima.

"The girls are fired up and ready to make a statement," Hurley said. "Most of the girls on the roster are experienced by at least a year at the state tournament, so hopefully we will be able to show up with calm and confidence. If we continue playing the way we have been we have a great chance of being successful over there. Our focus is on taking care of the ball on our side of the court and competing.

"Whatever the outcome of our time over there, that is our goal, because if we do that, we have success.

"It should be said that throughout the season and especially throughout the District IV tournament, my bench had an integral part in our success," Hurley added. "Without the girls on the bench being as fully engaged and enthusiastic and selfless as they are, our successes may not have happened. I always tell the girls that it takes a full team effort and a team is made of more than just the six girls on the court."