9/22/25
Curtis Vikings 3, Puyallup Vikings 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-16)
(University Place, WA) The SPSL season began with two of the top three teams from a year ago squaring off after facing each other three times last year. The Curtis Vikings, reigning SPSL and 4A State Champions, are off to another great start at 4-0, while the Puyallup Vikings are also undefeated at 2-0. Neither team had lost a set in the first part of the season, and something had to give in this great matchup.
The first set started back and forth, with neither team winning consecutive points until Curtis took at 5-3 lead. Mia Nelson and Selana Morales led the way for Curtis, while Sienna Hanson and Rilyn Kerlee were leading Puyallup. After Nelson earned a point with a kill to make it 7-5, Puyallup pulled within one at 7-6 before Curtis went on a run. Curtis won five points in a row, with Nelson winning three in a row, and Puyallup had to call a timeout during the run to try and slow down the attack of Curtis. Curtis continued to flex their muscles, pulling ahead to a 20-9 lead with the help of Kayla Baker, Tala Johnson, and Morales, all earning points to build a big lead. Puyallup didn’t settle, as both Tyler Ghorley and Sam Pirillis had an ace, while Ava Knapp and Amelia Guardipee each had kills. Curtis would take the first set 25-14 and a 1-0 lead.
Puyallup would take its first lead of the match right away when Kennedy Guinn started things off with an ace. Curtis rallied for three straight points before Puyallup fought back as Guardipee won back-to-back points to give them a 4-3 lead. Puyallup led again at 6-5, but Curtis took the lead back as Johnson and Baker each had a kill, and Elaina Duong had an ace to give them a 10-7 lead. Johnson added an ace to make it 12-7, and Kate Harris earned a point on the second hit during a rally to make it 14-8, Curtis in front as Puyallup used a timeout. Ava Knapp earned a point on a block, and Pirillis recorded an ace to make it 15-10. Puyallup still trailed before Curtis tallied back-to-back points from Mia Nelson. It was Melayna Volkman’s turn for back-to-back points to bring Puyallup’s deficit down to 17-12 and after another won point, 17-13. Curtis jumped up to a 20-15 lead as the two sides traded points before Selana Morales earned a pair of kills and Kayla Baker had a block at the net for Curtis to help close out the middle set 25-17.
Puyallup got off to a fast start in the third set with Volkman and Sienna Hanson each getting a kill and Georgia Kafentzis serving an ace to give them a 4-1 lead. Curtis countered with four straight points to take a 5-4 lead with the help of an Elaina Duong ace. Puyallup tied it at five apiece with a point from Guardipee before Morales had back-to-back kills and Harris added a kill as well for Curtis. Puyallup tied the set at nine when Guardipee had a kill and Volkman had back-to-back kills before Nelson and Harris took the lead back for Curtis at 11-9. Curtis then held a 16-10 lead with the help of Bella McNaughton getting a kill and a block, while Harris had a kill and an ace. Curtis started to pull away as Kayla Baker had a pair of kills late and a block while Harris and Morales each had a kill for Curtis to take the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express Match MVP went to Mia Nelson of Curtis. Nelson was tremendous from the get-go and helped lead her team to their 32nd consecutive win, and sixth consecutive match without surrendering a set, dating back to last year.
Curtis also had great nights from Kate Harris, Elaina Duong, Kayla Baker, Presley Messersmith, Bella McNaughton, Tala Johnson, and Selana Morales, who all made major contributions to the match and helped the Vikings begin their defense of the SPSL crown.
Puyallup’s Sam Pirillis was phenomenal with highly athletic digs and her on-court leadership throughout the match. Amelia Guardipee, Ava Knapp, Sienna Hanson, and Melayna Volkman were great at the net for the Vikings on both the attack and setting up various blocks throughout the match.
Curtis improves to 5-0 and will travel to Spanaway Lake on Wednesday before hosting Tumwater in a non-league match on Thursday.
Puyallup drops to 2-1 on the season and will take on Emerald Ridge on Wednesday on ESN. The Centralia College Prematch Show will start at approximately 7:05 PM, and the first serve is scheduled for 7:15 PM.
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Game Highlights
Match MVP Slams It Through Attempted Block
Bella McNaughton Gets Key Third Set Point For Curtis
Puyallup’s Amelia Guardipee Slams Home Point
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