Eagles nail top SE-8 slot after two road battles

SJE Eagles volleyball team nailed the top SE-1B playoff slot with wins in two battles on the road over the week. Tuesday the Eagles locked up in a five-game battle with the Tigercats that lasted over two hours. Last Thursday they took a four-game win at Colton.

Other action Tuesday saw the Nighthawks down Pomeroy on senior night at Oakesdale. Asotin won at Palouse, and Colton bounced back with a three game win at Rosalia.

One more biggie remains on the books for the last league round tonight when Colton travels to LaCrosse. Rosalia will be at St. John; Garfield/ Palouse will be at Pomeroy, and Tekoa/ Oakesdale at Asotin.

The playoffs begin next Thursday, Nov. 5, with the 1B teams at Colfax and the 2B teams at Dayton. All final rounds will be Saturday at Dayton.

ST. JOHN/ENDICOTT moved to 6-1 in the 1B standings after out-lasting LW in the battle at Washtucna Tuesday. The Eagles pulled it out with a 15-13 in the fifth game decider. Lindsey Miller started the finish with a block and Gretchen Van Lith put down two kills.

Line score up to the fifth game was 24-26 25-20 25-18 and 25-27.

Tigercat Coach Sandy Martin said the fifth-game score wasn’t all that bad because the Tigercats, who had nine players for varsity, ran out of player time and had to put a freshman into the lineup for the final round of the battle.

Chelsea McKay had 21 kills for LW, and Gladys Martinez had 20 assists. Della Fleming had 11 digs and three aces.

SJE booked their first crucial road win Thursday with a 25-20 25-18 16-25 and 27-25 at Colton. Kelly Van Lith had 28 kills against the Wildcats and Tricia Luft had 46 digs. Kelsey Simon had 22 assists.

Kelsey Moser hit 13 kills and 17 digs for Colton. Mollie Kramer had 10 blocks.

COLTON bounced back Tuesday with a 25-9 25-20 25-17 at Rosalia with Kelsey Moser putting down seven kills and Haley Moser putting up nine assists. Briann Maley had three kills for the Spartans, and Hannah Sims had three blocks.

TEKOA/OAKESDALE/ROSALIA Tuesday downed Pomery 25-15 25-15 and 25-18 with Desiree Chappell marking senior night with 15 kills, four blocks, 6 aces and six digs. Kaela Dewan had 13 assists.

Chappell, Katie Graffis, Kim Pakootas, Bryanna Solano and Sara Warner are the other seniors for the `hawks.

In the Thursday round, the `hawks defeated Garfield/Palouse 25-9 25-8 25-11 with Chappell hitting 17 kills. Kaycie Adair had 12 digs for the Vikes and Annie Leendertsen had three kills.

LaCROSSE/WASHTUCNA in the Thursday round defeated Rosalia in three, 25-18 25-23 and 25-12, with Chelsea McKay hitting nine kills and Gladys Martinez lofting 14 assists.

Katelyn Maley had nine kills for the Spartans, and Hannah Sims and Briann Maley each had four blocks for the Spartans.

ASOTIN stopped Garfield/Palouse 25-20 25-21 and 25-19 in the last round. Annie Leendertsen hit 8 kills and 8 blocks against the Panthers, and Kacie Adair had 8 assists and 20 digs.