Eagles impress in Yakima Sun Dome Tournament

ST. JOHN — The St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse Eagles (SJEL) volleyball team ended their undefeated fist week of volleyball by competing in the Yakima Sun Dome Tournament Friday, Sept. 8, in Yakima.

The team had three pool play games, winning all three of them. Their first game of the day was against Orcas Island, where SJEL won in straight sets, 25-23, 25-20. Their next game of the day was against Brewster, where once again SJEL won in straight sets, 25-19, 25-17. The final game of the day was against Wapato, where the teams split a set each. Wapato took the first set 22-25, and the Eagles won the second, 25-11.

After pool play, SJEL was ranked eighth out of the 32-team tournament, putting them in the championship bracket.

The Eagles were the only 1B team to advance to the championship bracket in the entire tournament.

For the championship bracket, there were eight teams. The teams were: Manson (#1 seed), Annie Wright (#2 seed), La Conner (#3 seed), Granger (#4 seed), Connell (#5 seed), Zillan (#6 seed), Napavine (#7 seed), and SJEL (#8 seed).

The first round match up for SJEL was against top seeded Manson. The Eagles were bested in straight sets by Manson, who would go on to win the whole tournament. The scores for the game were 17-25, 17-25.

The Eagles would then go on to play 1A school Annie Wright. The game was a hard fought game from both sides, with each set going 25-27 in favor of Annie Wright. The Eagles would finish seventh overall in the tournament.

“They played really well and improved each and every game,” SJEL head coach Jenn Johnson said.

Johnson was also happy with how her team stepped up against bigger schools and opponents, and held their own in the tournament.

For the whole tournament, Cami Larsen led the Eagles with nine aces. Sophie Anderson would have seven, and Julia Guske and Emery Molina had six.

Kill wise, Kaitlyn Hough led the Eagles with 38 kills in the tournament. Molina would have 14, and Kenzie Stanley would add 11 for the Eagles.

Guske had 64 assists in the tournament, and led the team in digs with 32. Larsen added 25, and Hough had 21.

For blocks, it was all about Chloe Waddell, who had seven.

The next game for SJEL will take place Thursday, Sept. 14, a home game against the Colton Wildcats. First serve is set for 6 p.m.