Kentwood High volleyball started a new Class 4A state tournament appearance streak last Saturday thanks to wins over Skyview and Kentridge in the opening rounds of the district tournament.
A year ago, Auburn Riverside knocked Kentwood out at the district playoffs, which snapped an eight-year run in the state tournament for the Conquerors.
With Bil Caillier back at the helm as head coach, Kentwood, led by seniors Lauren Hackett and Sarah Toeaina, was ready to punch its ticket to state and cross another goal off the list for the 2013 season.
Kentwood faces Bothell in its first-round match at 8 a.m. Friday at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.
At district, Kentwood started with a 3-0 sweep of Skyview in the first round, winning 25-22, 25-16, 26-24 then put away Kentridge in a win that was particularly sweet. The Conks’ only league loss during the regular season was a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Chargers in October.
This time, Kentwood handled Kentridge with a three-set victory of 25-15, 25-19, 25-18.
“It felt good because … it was kind of revenge for a league loss,” Hackett said.
Toeaina noted it was quite an accomplishment for the Conks to get back to state.
“Very proud of our team for staying focused,” Toeaina said. “We knew what was at stake here and we knew we could get it.”
Hackett said the preparation for the district tournament was particularly good thanks to Caillier getting on the court with them as well as taking sets from Kentlake graduate Courtney Thompson which is a hitter’s dream.
“We had a really good week of practice,” Hackett said. “Courtney Thompson, the Olympic (team) setter, visited (Nov. 7). Every one of her sets was a dime.”
And something about practice helped Kentwood’s players hone their killer instincts.
Hackett said before the district tournament that the team had so much fun, the girls sometimes didn’t feel the pressure to close out a match. “Our aggression was better than ever before,” Hackett said.
“Our middles – a junior and a sophomore – were swinging. And knowing that getting the first two games isn’t enough.”
That was an important thing for Kentwood to remember when it faced Camas in the semi-finals. The Conks held off the Papermakers in a 3-2 victory, including an extended fifth game.
This set up a matchup in the district championship contest with Bellarmine Prep, widely considered one of the contenders for the 4A state title at the tournament.
Kentwood couldn’t cross off winning a district title from its list of goals as Bellarmine won 3-0.
Still, the Conks are ready for state. The Lions from Bellarmine are on the other half of the bracket. It is possible they could meet up again.
After beating Kentridge, Toeaina said there is still work to do before the state tournament.
“I felt like we just didn’t give up,” Toeaina said. “We were down in a couple matches and we came back. Same goals for each game (at state). Same team focus. Getting to state is not what we’re settling at.”
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