Wildcats, `hawks, Eagles mix it up in net battles

Colton’s Wildcats battled for a big win Thursday night at Oakesdale and then dropped Garfield/Palouse Tuesday to make a big move in SE-North volleyball action.

After being bumped by Colton on their home court Thursday, the Nighthawks rolled to St. John and out-battled the Eagles in a five-game marathon Tuesday night to throw the race for the top slot into a scramble.

Results for the last two rounds crank up the setting for a big clash tonight when the SJE Eagles head south to face Colton in the Wildcats’ gym.

TEKOA/OAKESDALE Tuesday posted strong wins in the first two games, 25-13 and 25-9 before the host Eagles came to life.

“We started out flat, and then we just picked it up and led them right into that last game,” SJE Coach Megan Doering commented.

The Eagles tied the match by taking the next two games 25-19 and 25-18 and took a 14-10 lead in the game five decider. The `hawks tied it at 13-13 and 15-15 and then scored the last two points. Match point for the `hawks came off a dropped ball.

Kaela Dewan put up 27 assists and hit five aces for the `hawks and Desiree Chappell had 26 kills and seven blocks. Katie Graffis and Kim Pakootas each had 10 digs.

For the Eagles, Kelsey Simon has 18 assists and three aces, and Kelly Van Lith had 17 kills. Lindsay Miller hit seven blocks and Tricia Luft at 30 digs.

COLTON Tuesday advanced to 7-2 in league play when they downed Garfield/Palouse in three, 25-23 25-8 and 25-12 on a strong serving night. The Wildcats had three players who hit 100 percent on serving with Mikayla Nygreen at 20-20, Kelsey Moser at 15-15 and Haley Moser at 8-8. The trio served 13 aces at the Vikes.

Mollie Kramer had seven kills and two blocks.

Colton Thursday pulled out a big win at Oakesdale, taking out the `hawks in a five game battle. The Wildcats pegged an early lead in the fifth game and won it 15-11. Line score for the first four was 20-25 25-21 11-25 and 25-21.

Kelsey Moser put down 17 kills for Colton, and Desiree Chappell had a league high 26 for the `hawks in a five-game battle. Kaela Dewan had 20 assists for the `hawks and freshman Alex Overton had six blocks.

Colton’s Grace Druffel, who put together a strong serving string in the fourth game to put the match at 2-2, was credited with two aces.

ST. JOHN/ENDICOTT Thursday swept Garfield/Palouse 25-9 25-16 and 25-20 with Kelly Van Lith hitting seven aces and Gretchen Van Lith putting down five kills. Kelsey Simon had 10 assists for the Eagles.

Terrie Taylor had four kills for the Vikes, and Kaycie Adair put up six assists and had 16 digs in the back court.

LaCROSSE/WASHTUCNA dropped Pomeroy in four games Tuesday at LaCrosse, 23-25 25-8 25-17 and 25-22 with Chelsea McKay hitting 23 kills, and Gladys Martinez putting up 15 assists. McKay and Della Fleming each hit three aces, and McKay had four blocks.

The Tigercats lost to Tri-Cities Prep in three games on the road Saturday. That left TCP and SJE on top of the race for the 1B clubs as the playoff breakout approaches. The two leaders are 4-1 on the 1B card; Colton and LW are 3-2.

LaCrosse/Washtucna in the Thursday round took out Asotin 25-12 25-19 and 25-19.

Touchet Tuesday defeated Rosalia in a battle of the last-place clubs in the 1B standings.