9/29/25

Lake Stevens Vikings 3, Curtis Vikings 0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-21)

(University Place, WA) Last year, Lake Stevens and Curtis played each other twice, once in the regular season, where Curtis won 3-0 at Lake Stevens. The other was at the Yakima Sundome in the 4A State Semifinals, where Curtis narrowly edged out Lake Stevens 3-2, en route to Curtis securing their second volleyball state title. In what could be a preview of a State Semifinal or even a State Championship match, the two teams battled again in another great night of volleyball.

The first set started with each team winning points back and forth. Lake Stevens jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Curtis quickly tied it up with the help of a nifty play from Selana Morales to help Curtis draw even. Laura Eichert quickly won a point for Lake Stevens to take a 3-2 lead, but Morales tied it up, and Curtis then took their first lead of the match at 4-3. Later on in the opening set, Curtis would take an 8-7 lead when freshman Bella McNaughton won a point at the net. Lake Stevens would get the lead back when Olivia Gonzales got a kill to make it 10-9. Ella Iseminger then got an ace to make it 11-9, but Curtis came back to tie it up at 11-11. Lake Stevens went on a 3-0 run, but Curtis tied it up at 15 and 16 apiece. Ella Iseminger won a point for Lake Stevens to make it 17-16 to start another 3-0 run. Curtis took the next two points as Elaina Duong served an ace to make it 19-18. Lake Stevens later had a 21-19 lead and went on to win the next four points with an ace from Ella Iseminger, a kill from Eichert, and a block from Kamryn Strom to win the first set 25-19.

Lake Stevens won six of the first eight points to begin the second set as Eichert earned a couple of points, and Gonzales had an ace. Curtis clawed their way back to make it 9-7. After the sides traded points, Lake Stevens led 12-9, Curtis won three points in a row with Kayla Baker getting a kill, then back-to-back aces to tie the second set at 12. After a long rally, Lake Stevens won the point and went on a 6-0 run to get an 18-12 lead. Later in the set, Lake Stevens took another six-point lead as Madison Sowers earned a point to make it 20-14. Bella McNaughton earned a point for Curtis to make it 20-15, but Lake Stevens would then take a 22-16 lead after another great kill from Eichert. Eichert later would get a kill, and Gonzales served an ace to set up the first set point at 24-18. Mia Nelson got a kill, Morales got a block, and Curtis suddenly went on a 4-0 run to make it 24-22. Lake Stevens closed the second set out with Eichert winning the set-clinching point at 25-22 and took a 2-0 lead.

In the third set, Curtis jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Lake Stevens won three points in a row to go up 3-2 as Strom had an ace and Eichert had a kill. Curtis tied the match at 3-3 with a kill from Nelson, but Lake Stevens tied the match up at 4 as Katya Vladyko got a kill. Curtis went up 6-4 and 7-5 before Lake Stevens won four points in a row to go up 9-7, as Ella Iseminger and Madison Sowers each won points. Curtis rattled off four points consecutively to take an 11-9 lead and then a 12-10 lead. Lake Stevens came back to tie the match at 12 as Eichert won another point. There were two straight long rallies which each team won a point to tie the set again at 13. Lake Stevens took a two-point lead at 15-13 as Strom got an ace, and Lake Stevens continued to lead. Curtis made it a one-point set at 16-15 and 17-16, but Lake Stevens took a pivotal 4-0 run to take a 21-16 lead with Audrey Iseminger getting an ace. Lake Stevens was up 22-17 after Ella Iseminger got a kill, but Curtis stormed back with three straight points as Kate Harris earned a point and an ace to make the Lake Stevens lead shrink down to 22-20. Gonzales and Eichert each earned points for Lake Stevens to make it match point at 24-20. Curtis took the next point, but Eichert would close out the match with a kill at 25-21 to win the match for Lake Stevens 3-0 and end the Curtis win streak at a phenomenal 34 matches.

Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express Match MVP went to Lake Stevens star Laura Eichert. The 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington led the Vikings to the road win with stellar net play, powerful swings, effective serves, and another great night for the best player in the state.

Lake Stevens had great nights from twins Ella and Audrey Inseminger, Katya Vladyko, Olivia Gonzales, and Kamryn Strom as they all played key roles to getting the thrilling victory on the road.

Curtis was led by Kayla Baker, who routinely made big plays when her team needed them most. Kate Harris, Mia Nelson, and Selana Morales were instrumental in getting points for Curtis. Elaina Duong also had a great night for Curtis with her digs.

Lake Stevens remains undefeated at 6-0 and will host Lynnwood tonight and go to Kamiak on Thursday.

Curtis is now 7-1 and will host Sumner tonight on ESN and travel to Emerald Ridge on Thursday.

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Game Highlights

Selana Morales Earns Point For Curtis After Long Rally

Lake Stevens Wizardry At The Net Wins The Point

Match MVP Laura Eichert Ends The Match With A Kill

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