Mossyrock Vikings Comeback From Down 2-1 to Edge Out a Win vs Black Hills Wolves

9/10/25

Mossyrock 3, Black Hills 2 (25-16, 10-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-6)

(Tumwater, WA) The Volleyball season here at Eli Sports started off with a bang. The 2B Mossyrock Vikings came to take on the 2A Black Hills Wolves in the wolf den. The Vikings have proven time and time again that they are a shoo-in for state appearances and deep playoff runs every year, while the Wolves are looking to get back to their playoff status this season.

Mossyrock started the first set hot, taking a commanding 10-1 lead that had Black Hills on their heels early. As the set went on, the Wolves started to chip away at the lead as Emmaline Thompson came in and scored three straight points with an ace to bring the game within six. Wolves started to catch some rhythm to bring the score within four, but could not overcome that deficit. Mossyrock started to pour it on and ran away with the lead to take set one 25-16

Set two started with Black Hills being the ones to get off to a hot start, going up 9-1 to start. Once that lead was established, the Wolves never looked back. Emmaline Thompson continued her great game at the serving line, scoring three in a row with the help of Lilly Worthen, who was ferocious at the net all night. Chloe Wachtman would come in to put the finishing touches on the set, scoring four straight points to bring the lead to 23-7. Wolves would end up winning the set 25-10 and tie the game up at one set apiece.

In set three, both teams had gotten into a groove and were going back and forth. After Mossyrock dominated set one and Black Hills in set two, this was the closest set of the night. The Vikings’ largest lead of the set would only be by five points and not for very long. Both teams were alternating leads as time went on. Mossyrock’s defense looked great to start the set, coming away with multiple blocks early on. They would take a 10-5 lead before crawling back to tie the set at 12-12. After that, the Wolves took the lead and never looked back. They would take a 20-15 lead, and although Mossyrock inched their way closer, it was just not enough. The Wolves would win set three 25-23 and take a 2-1 lead.

Set four was another close one, and the Vikings needed a comeback if they were to win. Adyson Barrows had a good start to the set, scoring three straight points. The Vikings did a great job of keeping the ball in their servers hands and chipping their way closer to winning the set. The Wolves made their way back into things and tied the game up after some great defensive efforts from the likes of Emmaline Thompson and Mackenzie Pate with a couple of kills for the Wolves. Wolves took a 19-17 lead late in the set but the Vikings would not go away and went on a 8 point run to get the set four win 25-19. Seemingly everyone on the court for Mossyrock having a part in winning set four

With the game being tied 2-2, it all came down to set number five. After winning set four and going on an 8 point run, all the momentum had shifted to the Vikings side. This was amplified after Adyson Barrows would serve for Mossyrock and help score 9 straight unanswered points with 5 aces. Barrows had had a big game already up until that point but she was the X factor for the Vikings in set 5. The energy of the Vikings had overtaken the room and everything seemed to be going right for them. Black Hills tried their hardest to mount a comeback but the hole was just too deep to climb out of. Mossyrock would win the set 15-6 and win the game 3-2. A hard fought comeback victory for the Vikings who move to 2-0 on the season. The Wolves come away with the loss but showed a lot of potential and is a team to look our for as the season progresses.

Our Thorbecks MVP of the game was Adyson Barrows. She was already the front runner for Mossyrock with her great defensive and offensive performance. But her 9 point run in the fifth set with 5 aces secured her MVP status. Honorable mentions go to Emmaline Thompson and Lilly Worthen for Black Hills and Brooke Schwartz for Mossyrock.