Eagles, T-Cats, Colton book strong net starts

Desiree Chappell of the Nighthawks goes up for a big hit during pool play Saturday in the Viking classic. Katie Renstrom is at right.

Three county net teams continued power starts in the SE North Tuesday after mixing it up in the Viking classic at Palouse Saturday. SJE Eagles, LW Tigercats and Colton have all booked big wins in the first round of league play and collided in the short-match format at Palouse.

Host Vikings signoff with Potlatch after a neighborly pool match. Holly Leendertsen, Kaycie Adair, and Madisyn Woltering lead the Viking line.

ST. JOHN/ENDICOTT, which came off a win in the Viking Classic Saturday, ran their league record to a 2-0 Tuesday night with a strong three-game win over Asotin. Line for the match was 25-12, 25-23 and 25-12.

Kelly VanLith booked 10 kills against the Panthers and hit four aces. Katie Jensema put up 16 assists. Trishia Luft also had four aces.

The Eagles Saturday at Palouse defeated Tekoa/Oakesdale, Dayton and Liberty Christian to advance to the championship game of the Viking Classic and then stopped Colton in two games for the title.

Last Thursday in a non-leaguer, Davenport’s strong team stopped the Eagles in a four game battle. SJE took the first game 26-24, but the Gorillas ran the last three for match win.

Kenzie Graber put down 19 kills for the Gorillas and Van Lith hit 12 for the Eagles. Jensema had 27 digs and 18 assists.

The Eagles will play at Tri-Cities Prep today.

COLTON’S Wildcats moved their SE North record to 3-0 Tuesday on a four-game match win at Pomeroy. Line score for the Wildcat win was 13-25, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-19.

Mollie Kramer booked nine kills and two blocks against the Pirates and hit 18-18 serving with two acres. Mikayla Nygreen had 12 assists, and Kelsey Moser had 10 kills and three aces.

Mckenzie Heaslet put up nine blocks.

Colton Thursday on their home court round stopped Asotin in three, 25-15 25-22 and 25-14.

Freshman Meghan Heitstuman, activated because of the sick list, hit nine kills in a varsity debut.

Nygreen had 16 assists against the Panthers and Moser had 12 kills, 16 digs, and a 22-24 night serving.

Colton and SJE, who collided in the final of the Viking classic, are slated to meet for their league match Tuesday at St. John.

LACROSSE/WASHTUCNA Tuesday rolled to Palouse and downed the Vikings in three games, 25-8, 25-21 and 25-16. The Tigercats had 14 kills from Della Fleming and 13 assists from Gladys Martinez. Annie Leendertsen had three kills and four blocks for the Vikings, and Holly Leendertsen booked 14 digs.

At Washtucna last Thursday, the Tigercats stopped Tekoa/Oakesdale, also in three, 25-20, 25-18 and 25-17 with Chelsea McKay putting down 12 kills and Kirsten Stubbs booking 8 assists. Martinez had six digs.

Desiree Chappell hit 15 kills for the `hawks, and Katie Renstrom had 13 assists.

TEKOA/OAKESDALE switched back to the win side in the Tuesday round with a three-gamer neighboring Rosalia, 25-5, 25-16 and 25-16. Chappell hit 12 kills against the Sparts, and Kaela Dewan had 12 assists. Freshman Alex Overton posted three blocks.

Briann Maley hit six kills for the Sparts, and Katelyn Maley hit two aces.

The `hawks play at Waitsburg today.