Prep Volleyball Roundup: Kalama, Hoggatt hold on tight for win over Monarchs
Plus scores for the rest of the Blast Zone coverage area
Jordan Nailon/ Blast Zone Media
Kalama continues to look for challenges as it transitions to the world of big school volleyball. Playing on their home court, it took five full sets to settle a non-league volleyball challenge match, Monday, when the Chinooks came out on top of Mark Morris by scores of 25-17, 11-25, 25-22, 22-25 and 15-13.
“Tonight was a battle. I’m proud of how hard the girls battled back in each set,” MM coach Carmen Hewitt said. “We can pull a lot of great things from this match, and continue to build on it.”
Taylor Hoggatt posted a match-high 41 digs to help 1A Kalama get over the 2A Monarchs. The teams traded sets all evening, with Kalama taking the final stanza by the bare minimum.
“I would say that my libero Taylor had a great match and did an amazing job on serve receive and digging everything that came her way,” Kalama coach Rebecca Clark said.
The Monarchs were led by Zoe Cole’s 27 assists on offense with Aliyah Yaple adding seven kills and three blocks. Aela McNeilly and Alexa Harrison turned in six kills and five kills, respectively, for Mark Morris.
“Zoey Cole had a great match. She distributed the ball well,” Hewitt added. “Alexa Harrison came in clutch early on, continuing to swing in the face of the block.”
As for the Chinooks, Emily Capen helped lead the way to victory with 12 kills and 11 digs. Jacey Hutchinson added 11 digs and a team-high 22 assists. Lily Harvill contributed seven kills with two blocks, while Ady Davenport got her hands on 11 successful digs for the ‘Nooks.
It’s been a mixed bag so far this season for the Monarchs (2-4, 1-2 league). They’ve played some of the top teams in the area, so the losses aren’t as bad as they read without context, but they’re still working to find their final form as league play ratchets up.
Against the Chinooks, Analiz Birrueta helped Mark Morris stay in the hunt with 15 digs and an 87% clip on her serve- receive work. Aliyah Yaple added 13 digs and Kenzie Henthorn turned in 11 digs in the loss.
“Analiz played incredible on defense, leading our serve receive efforts and allowing us to be offensive,” Hewitt noted. “Aliyah Yaple played fantastic all the way around. I’m really proud of this effort, even if it didn’t go our way.”
This season the Monarchs boast six seniors, but only two of those players were regulars in the lineup last season. That means Mark Morris will be leaning on a mix of new and familiar faces this fall including Birrueta (senior libero), Yaple, (seniour, outside hitter), Cole (senior, setter), Emily Street (senior, serve specialist) and Lexi Gunter (sophomore, defensive specialist), among many other potential big play contributors.
“We have competed with every team we have played this year, we just have to be more consistent,” Hewitt said. “That is a positive in my book. Consistency will come with time. However, we definitely have the talent to be a contender.”
Mark Morris will play at Hudson’s Bay on Tuesday, before hosting Washougal at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Ted M. Natt Court.
Kalama (3-2, 0-2 league) will be busy the rest of the week, playing next at Seton Catholic on Tuesday night. The ‘Nooks will turn around to host Fort Vancouver at 7 p.m. on Thursday, before heading to Mark Morris on Saturday morning for a tournament.
Toledo sweeps Cards in season’s first Battle
The Riverhawks took out Winlock in three sets of 2B prep volleyball action, Monday, in the Egg City. Toledo won the season’s first Battle of the Cowlitz by scores of 25-13, 25-5 and 25-12.
Sidney Kruger led Toledo with 27 assists and five digs. Ellie Fallon added 10 kills, seven aces and five digs, while Taysia Miller posted seven kills.
Stats for Winlock were not immediately available.
Winlock (1-4, 0-1 league) was set to host Morton-White Pass for another league match, Tuesday, at 7 p.m.
Toledo (2-3, 1-0 league) will host Onalaska on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Mules suffer first loss at Columbia Adventist
Wahkiakum dropped its first match of the season in a league contest against Columbia Adventist in four sets, Monday, in Vancouver. The Mules fell by scores of 25-17, 25-19, 21-25 and 25-18.
Jessie LaFever led the Mules’ backline with seven digs and strong serve-receive play. Evy Hogue put in work on defense with what Wahkiakum head coach Kaylie Hurley described as “scrappy” play.
“Overall this was a great learning experience for us as a team,” Hurley noted. “We hadn't seen a team in a real match this year that had some offensive power, so it was a great litmus test with many lessons that we can take away.”
Helen Lewis turned in six kills for the Mules, and Reese Long added three kills. Ryen Hurley and Sam Delacruz tallied six aces each in the loss..
Wahkikaum (4-1) will host Pe Ell at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, before welcoming Naselle to town on Wednesday for the Battle of KM Mountain at 7 p.m.
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