2A Prep Volleyball: Mark Morris rises, R.A. Long drops in muddled tiebreaker

Civil Squabble — Jills defeat Monarchs, but everyone goes 1-1

R.A. Long and Mark Morris faced off for a third time this season and things got weird from there in a three-way tiebreaker for third place in the 2A GSHL standings at Woodland, Thursday, Oct. 31. — Photo courtesy of Skyler Smith / Framed Photography

Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

WOODLAND — After a full regular season wasn’t enough to clearly determine pecking order in the 2A Greater St. Helens League volleyball standings it seems fitting that an entire afternoon of tiebreakers only made the matter muddier. With Mark Morris, R.A. Long and Woodland tied for third place at the end of the regular season the teams came together on Thursday afternoon for a three-way tiebreaker.

The teams played one another in a best-of-three series and each school finished 1-1 on the day. 

Mark Morris’ Aliyah Yaple takes a swing near the net during a tiebreaker match against R.A. Long at Woodland, Thursday, Oct. 31. The Monarchs wound up taking third in the league standings. — Courtesy of Skyler Smith / Framed Photography

The Monarchs and Panthers opened the action with Mark Morris prevailing in three sets (25-21, 14-25, 15-10), and moving one win away from a lock on third place. The Monarchs held the court, but fell to R.A. Long (25-17, 15-25, 15-13).

The win for the Lumberjills left them one victory away from securing the No. 3 seed once and for all, but Washougal came back to life with a two-set victory over R.A. Long by scores of 25-16, 26-24.