11/22/25
In the battle of Vikings, Lake Stevens would not give in to the defdending Champion Curtis Vikings to win in 5 sets. The spectacular Championship match was a fiting end to a great tournament with the top 2 seeds battling to the very end for the top prize.
Below is a re-cap or story written on each and every match from start to finish. ESN’s Sandy Ringer followed the action and provided this amazing coverage of the entire tournament. Congratulations to all the teams who made it to Yakima, that is a special achievement in itself.
All stories written by Sandy Ringer
4A Bracket
Saturday, November 22
State Championship
#2 Lake Stevens 3, #1 Curtis 2
16-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-17, 15-7)
There was no panic. Just persistence.
The Lake Stevens Vikings answered a sluggish start with a sizzling finish to capture their first Class 4A state volleyball title Saturday night at the Yakima SunDome, 3-2 over Curtis – the defending champion.
Laura Eichert simply would not be denied as she amassed a career-best 46 kills in the come-from-behind victory – 16-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-17, 15-7.
It was the perfect exclamation point on a 24-0 season.
“You can’t describe this feeling,” the 6-foot senior said, hugging the championship trophy. We’ve been trying to achieve this since we started the program and we wanted to bring it home for coach Kyle (Hoglund).”
Hoflund, in his 19th year with the program and 10th as head coach, had steadily built toward this moment – one he had reason to hope might have come earlier.
Lake Stevens lost in the final to Graham-Kapowsin in 2022, Eichert’s freshman year. Then came back-to-back losses in the semifinals, leading to a pair of fourth-place trophies.
But those disappointments didn’t create doubt, only more desire and determination.
And no one embodied that mindset more than Eichert, last year’s state Gatorade Player of the Year who has committed to Oregon.
Lake Stevens had lost only one set all season. So, imagine the shock when Curtis (25-3) reeled off the first two Saturday.
Maybe among the Lake Stevens fans. But not among the players or coaches.
Eichert had some uncharacteristic errors and rare rejections at the net as Curtis clicked on all cylinders.
But she didn’t blink.
“You’ve just got to swing away, you know?” Eichert said. “Trust your teammates to cover you, you know? You have to have trust. If I get blocked, so what? We have a ‘so what’ mentality, and next one mentality. We’re like goldfish, We just forget the last play and move to the next play. You can’t live in the past.”
Curtis came out smoking hot. Senior Selana Morales and junior Kayla Baker keyed a 17-3 run that made it 20-8 and Lake Stevens couldn’t string enough points together to get any closer than eight.
Junior Mia Nelson joined the hit parade in the second set, which ended with a Lake Stevens net violation.
Then Eichert found her grove. She pounded 12 kills in the third set and got help from Madison Sowers and Ella Iseminger.
Curtis seemed to regain control in the fourth, taking a 15-10 lead on a push play by setter Kathryn Harris. Again, Lake Stevens responded, closing the set on a 13-1 run capped by an Olivia Gonzales.
It was all Lake Stevens in the fifth.
“We had to out-team them,” said Eichert, who fittingly bashed the final point. “We had to play from our hearts and play for each other. You can’t be selfish out there. You have to play for each other and die on that court. We did it for each other, we did it for the coach, we did it for the program and it happened.”
Hoglund said the difference between the slow start and fast finish came from within his players.
“They just started trusting themselves and believing in themselves and got the nerves calmed down,” he said.
Curtis was seeking a third state title overall. The Vikings also first won in 2015, when Camryn Buell – their first-year head coach – was a senior.
Buell had been an assistant on her the staff for five season under her sister, Taylor Bautista.
While she was disappointed with the outcome, Buell beamed at the effort.
“I’m proud beyond words,” she said. “No one thought we could do it this season and we proved a lot of people wrong. We fought so hard and I’m just so proud. These girls made it such a special season and an unforgettable one.”
Trophy Round
3rd/4th Place
Game 25: #4 Wenatchee 3, #3 Gonzaga Prep 0
25-17, 25-20, 26-24
Gonzaga Prep pushed for a fourth set.
Claire Demirjian wasn’t having it.
The junior hitter took care of business to break a 24-24 tie and close out the match, making her case for MVP. She delivered eight kills in the final set.
Demirjian got plenty of assistance. Senior Rylee Jones came through with nine kills and four blocks. Two of her points came after Gonzaga Prep had pulled into a 22-all tie on a block by senior Sophia Schwab.
The Bullpups (19-3) also saw junior Mara Sandberg play sell in the season finale as they nearly matched their third-place showing back in 2004.
Wenatchee (18-2) also took third last year after losing in the semifinals to Kennedy Catholic. The Panthers were state champs in 2023.
5th/6th Place
Game 24: #5 Camas 3, #11 Puyallup 1
25-10, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23
Senior Gabriella Thompson notched the final kill, and MVP honors, as the Papermakers (21-4) placed fifth for the second year in a row – again at Puyallup’s expense. It’s their third straight trophy overall.
Puyallup (16-6) snares hardware for the fourth straight season.
The Vikings trailed 2-1 before senior Sienna Hanson and junior Rilyn Kerlee keyed a win in the fourth. They had a lead in the fifth before Thompson triggered a Camas comeback.
7th/8th Place
Game 23: #7 Emerald Ridge 3, #12 Mead 1
25-23, 23-25, 25-13, 25-17
ER erased the disappointment of an opening round loss by closing out the tournament with a trio of victories to claim seventh place.
Korby Hansen, the Jaguars’ hard-hitting junior, was a force down the stretch and delivered six kills in the final set to garner MVP acknowledgement.
Mead (14-8) evened the match at 1-1 behind the efforts of junior Alayna Smeltzer. But Emerald Ridge (19-6) jumped in front early in the third and was in control the rest of the way.
It’s the Jags’ first trophy since they placed sixth in 2019.
Mead made amends for last year’s early 1-2 exit.
_________________________________
Championship Setup
Forget any upset efforts. There is no Cinderella to be crowned at the Class 4A State Volleyball tournament Saturday at the Yakima SunDome.
It’s No. 1 Curtis (25-2) against No. 2 Lake Stevens (23-0) as they battle for top bragging rights for the second straight year. First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Curtis came from behind to take the 2024 title in five sets.
Lake Stevens, powered by Oregon-bound Laura Eichert, remembers the sting and is focused to finally claiming the program’s first title.
Eichert, who was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior, has been dazzling this weekend.
Curtis, located in University Place, had a 34-match win streak snapped by Lake Stevens in back in September, 3-0, but might not have been at full strength.
The Vikings have a new head coach in Camryn Buell. She took over in May after serving as an assistant to Taylor Bautista. She knows a little something about winning state championships, too – she played on the Vikings’ title team in 2015.
Semifinals
Game 21: #2 Lake Stevens 3, #3 Gonzaga Prep 0
25-21, 25-18, 25-19
The bigger the match, the better Eichert seems to perform.
As if the 6-foot senior hadn’t been dominant enough, she amassed 26 kills to help carry the Vikings back to the championship match and add another MVP tally.
Eichert isn’t one dimensional by any means. She’s the complete package with a solid service game and is a force defensively as well – whether it’s a big block or a diving dig. Passing? No problem.
Eichert ended the final two sets with kills and accounted for three of the Vikings’ final four points. Sophomore Ella Iseminger had the other. Senior Kamryn Storm also stepped up in big moments.
The supporting cast is strong. It was Madison Sowers and Taylor Mayles, a pair of seniors, who combined for the block to end the opening set.
Gonzaga Prep started strong and led 18-17 in the first set before Eichert took control. And it was 16-16 in the third with Lake Stevens closing on a 9-3 run.
Junior Mara Sandberg led the Bullpups with seven kills.
Game 22: #1 Curtis 3, #4 Wenatchee 1
22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17
Slow starts don’t phase the Vikings.
They were known as the Comeback Kids in last year’s tournament and didn’t heat up in the quarterfinals until the third set, losing the second to Olympia.
So, Wenatchee’s hot start didn’t make them sweat.
Senior Selana Morales and junior Kayla Baker got cooking in the second set and wound up sharing MVP honors.
Junior setter Kathryn Harris handed out perfect passes right and left and even delivered the winning point in the second set. Senior libero Elaina Duong had dig after dig.
Wenatchee didn’t go quietly. Senior Breven Luinstra and junior Claire Demirjian kept coming at the Vikings. Demirjian drilled back-to-back kills to close what had been a 20-13 deficit to 20-16 and a block by senior Ava Bellew got the Panthers even closer.
But Curtis closed with a 5-0 run fueled by a pair of Mia Nelson aces and two points at the net by Morales.
_______________________________
Consolation Bracket (Loser Out matches)
Trophy Round Setup
It won’t be the trophy either of them came gunning for.
But No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (19-2) and No. 4 Wenatchee (17-2) will both strive to earn the best finish available and leave the Class 4A State Volleyball tournament on a winning note Saturday at the Yakima SunDome.
Each had championship aspirations but lost in the semifinals Saturday morning.
Gonzaga was taken down by second-seeded Lake Stevens, 3-0. Wenatchee took the first set off No. 1 Curtis, the defending champion, but was swept from there.
So, third place is the best either can finish when they meet at 2 p.m. The loser will take fourth.
Lake Stevens (23-0) and Curtis (25-2) go for gold at 5:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s finale.
No. 5 Camas (20-4) clashes with No. 11 Puyallup (16-5) at noon to sort out fifth and sixth places. If that sounds familiar, it should. The same two squared off in this match a year ago, with Camas squeezing out a 3-2 victory.
No. 12 Mead (24-7), among the most decorated volleyball programs in the state, clawed through the consolation bracket after an opening-round loss to Camas and goes against No. 7 Emerald Ridge (18-6) to decide seventh and eighth places, also at noon. The Jaguars also dropped their first match Friday against Issaquah and battled back to assure themselves of a trophy for the first time since 2019.
Consolation Bracket (Loser Out matches)
Game 17: #7 Emerald Ridge 3, #6 Kamiakin 0
25-17, 25-20, 26-24
Korbyn Hansen, a 5-foot-7 junior, powered the Jaguars as they secured a trophy for the first time since 2019, when they finished sixth.
She slammed12 kills with 10 of those coming in the first two sets, to take MVP honors.
Olivia Henderson, a 6-foot junior, also stepped up at the net and contributed a trio of kills in that second set.
Kamiakin, which wound up 19-3 on the season, was paced by junior Delaney Donaldson with eight kills.
Game 18: #12 Mead 3, #9 Skyline 0
25-21, 25-23, 25-18
After just missing a trophy last year, the Panthers are back in familiar territory thanks largely to match MVP Mercedes Gilroy, a 5-foot-8 junior hitter, who put down a dozen kills.
Libero Ella Williams, another junior, played outstanding defense along with senior Janae Demant. Juniors Sage Hattenburg and Alayna Smeltzer also got mentions for their all-around play.
Senior Emma Gutke was dominant again for Skyline and got help from junior Carly Maginnis, but fell short. The Spartans (17-8) lost some key seniors but have enough young talent to make another run next year.
Game 19: #11 Puyallup 3, #10 Issaquah 1
20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23
Sienna Hanson didn’t want to go home empty-handed.
As one of the team’s trio of seniors, she felt the need to maintain tradition,
After all, the Vikings had earned trophies in each of the three previous tournaments.
Hanson keyed the offense in the final two sets to net MVP honors. Sophomore Kennedy Guinn was also solid at the net. Junior Rilyn Karlee was key defensively.
Issaquah once again saw sophomore Bryn Walcott play well, especially in the opening set, but couldn’t sustain the momentum. The Eagles end the year with a 23-7 mark.
Game 20: #5 Camas 3 #8 Olympia 2
19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-8
Senior Quinn Pedersen wants to put an exclamation point on her senior season.
She was all over the court as the Papermakers held off relentless Olympia to return to the trophy round for the third straight season.
Sophomore Tamara Gonzalez Romero helped put Camas on the board in the second set after the Bears had drawn first blood behind the play of sophomore Stella Sheeran and junior Netty Obungu.
Camas sophomore Esther Hoesing was solid defensively filling in for senior libero Emma Sanchez, who suffered an apparent injury Friday night.
Olympia goes out at 15-9 and has a bright future with its young talent.
______________________________
Friday, November 21
4A Semifinals setup
A sign in the crowd summed up one situation in the Class 4A State Volleyball tournament Friday at the Yakima SunDome
“Call 911! Lake Stevens is on Fire!”
Laura Eichert was certainly smoking hot with an assortment of sizzling kills in a quarterfinal win over No. 10 Issaquah that leaves the second-seeded Vikings two victories away from their first state title.
Eichert, an Oregon commit, was the 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington. But what matters most is that elusive crown. Lake Stevens reached the semifinals a year ago only to lose 3-2 to Curtis, which went on to win it all.
The Vikings (22-0) go up against No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (19-1) this time around with first serve set for 10 a.m. Saturday.
No. 1 Curtis (24-2) battles No. 4 Wenatchee (17-1) in Saturday’s other semifinal, also at 10 a.m.
Gonzaga ended Puyallup’s fairytale hopes in the quarterfinals.
Curtis toppled No. 8 Olympia, while Wenatchee beat No. 5 Camas.
Issaquah (23-5), which has its share of big-time hitters, plays Puyallup (15-5) in an elimination match Saturday at 8 a.m. Camas (19-4) and Olympia (15-9) also square off at 8 a.m. with the loser going home.
The winners of those matches then play at noon to determine fifth place and sixth places.
Quarterfinals
Game 13: #3 Gonzaga Prep 3, No. 11 Puyallup 0
25-18, 25-23, 25-19
The young Bullpups continued to show they are for real.
Junior Mara Sandberg swatted 15 kills and delivered a pair of 6-0 serving runs.
Freshman Rowan Greenfield notched three aces in a second-set comeback that helped GP get the sweep. Karolina Flanagan, one of the team’s three seniors, came up with a big block to end the match.
For Puyallup, 6-3 senior Sienna Hanson checked in with 10 kills to keep the match competitive. The Vikings had upset No. 6 Kamiakin in the opening round.
Game 14: #2 Lake Stevens 3, #10 Issaquah 0
25-19, 25-19, 25-10
Eichert dazzled with dynamite kills that often ricocheted off the court and into the stands.
She accounted for six of their final 10 points on stinging swings (well, one was a tip) and clearly earned MVP accolades. Fellow senior Olivia Gonzales can jump-set with the best of them and contributed an ace late in the third set.
Eichert wasn’t her only passing target. Ella Iseminger got her share of chances and made the most of them. Ditto for Madison Sowers.
Issaquah’s Bryn Walcott might be the next big thing. The 6-foot-1 sophomore showed eye-popping power, too, with an ability to put the ball straight down. Molly Yoshino, another soph, stands just 5-5 but has major hops and does her fair share of damage at the net.
Game 15: #4 Wenatchee 3, #5 Camas 1
25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 25-14
Claire Demirijan, a 5-foot-9 junior hitter, did her part to get the Panthers back to the semis, where they stumbled last year against Kennedy Catholic and wound up third.
But she is just one piece of the puzzle as the Panthers featured a well-rounded attack all day. Sophomore Sonaya Jensen had some big moments – none bigger than supplying match point on a dump.
Camas rode the serving Ella Thompson to win the second set. She delivered a half-dozen aces with had Wenatchee wincing with the movement on her ball.
Senior libero Emmah Sanchez also stood out for the Papermakers, battling through an apparent leg injury.
Game 16: #1 Curtis 3, #8 Olympia 1
25-17, 24-26, 25-12, 25-17
It’s not easy to defeat a team four times in a season
But the defending champs pulled it off behind another masterful outing by senior hitter Selana Morales, the match MVP.
She came up with clutch kills for key points – including the final one after the Bears evaded two match points.
Olympia got fired up after taking the second set on an ace by Stella Sheeran.
But that only seemed to light a fire for Curtis, which also got impressive play from junior Kayla Baker.
_____________________________________
4A Consolation Bracket (Loser Out matches)
Game 9: #6 Kamiakin 3, #14 Mount Rainier 0
25-23, 25-23, 25-22
Avery Beck was at her best to keep Kamiakin’s season going as she put together 17 digs to garner MVP accolades.
The Braves, who were unbeaten before falling their district championship match to Gonzaga Prep, bounced back after their first-round loss to No. 4 Wenatchee. They need one more victory to secure their first trophy since placing second in 2008 and play No. 7 Emerald Ridge (17-6) at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Mount Rainier (16-6) had a short stay in the tournament after failing to qualify in 2024 but showed a lot of heart and was in both of its matches. Junior setter Abby Taliloa earned a mention for the Rams, who featured just three seniors.
Game 10: #7 Emerald Ridge 3, #15 Davis 1
25-19, 26-28, 25-16, 25-23
Just when it looked as though the Pirates were going to push the match to five sets, Emerald Ridge rallied from five points down to keep its trophy hopes alive.
Junior hitters Korbyn Hansen and Navaeh Thomas paced the Jaguars offensively with Hansen getting the MVP nod. Thomas was tough defensively at the net as well.
ER (17-6) takes on No. 6 Kamiakin (19-2) in another elimination bout Saturday at 8 a.m. The winner gets one more match, which decides seventh and eighth places. The loser goes home.
Davis of Yakima closes out the season 13-7 with a young roster that includes only one senior, Cynthia Chiquiz. Junior libero Brisa Garfias drew mention for her defensive efforts against ER.
Game 11: #12 Mead 3, #13 Kamiak 0
25-14, 25-21, 25-14
Junior hitter Alayne Smeltzer got the offense cooking and keeps the Panthers in the trophy hunt.
Kamiak made a strong push in the second set, but Mercedes Gilroy served five straight points to set up the victory. Sarah Jolley delivered the match-winning kill. They also are among Mead’s eight juniors
The Panthers (13-7) return Saturday at 8 a.m. to battle No. 9 Skyline (17-7) in one more elimination match.
Kamiak leaves with a 16-6 record but has strong hopes for the future with only three seniors in the program.
Game 12: #9 Skyline 3, #16 Mount Si 1
25-14, 18-25, 25-14, 25-10
There was no third-time charm for Mount Si, which had lost two earlier contests to their KingCo rivals.
Emma Gutke, a 6-foot-3 senior, smashed 14 kills to stand out as MVP. Two of those brought the third-set score to 23-10. Sanika Vipin then served up an ace and Tessa Reed ended things with one last swing.
Mount Si got 10 kills from Taylor Showalter, half of those keying a second-set victory.
The Spartans then went up 2-1 and stormed ahead 11-1 in the fourth.
Skyline (17-7) now faces No. 12 Mead (13-7) Saturday at 8 a.m. The winner will play for seventh and eighth places, while the other team is eliminated.
Mount Si closes its campaign at 11-10.
_______________________________
State Opening Round of 16
Game 1: #11 Puyallup vs #6 Kamiakin
25-21, 25-20, 25-22
In the biggest upset of the first round, 6-foot-3 senior Sienna Hanson threw a block party, logging three straight in the third set to stand out as the match MVP.
Juniors Sam Pirillis and Georgia Kafentzis also stood out defensively and at the service like for the Vikings (13-4), who go up against No. 3 Gonzapa Prep Friday ay 7:15 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Game 2: #3 Gonzaga Prep 3, #14 Mount Rainier 1
25-16, 25-16, 22-25, 29-27
The Rams gave Gonzaga Prep a great go and were oh-so-close to sending the contest to a fifth set. They led 24-20 in the fourth before the Bullpups battled back. Mount Rainier fought off two match points but ultimately fell short.
Junior Mara Sandberg came through in the clutch to draw the MVP tag for Gonzaga Prep (18-1), which will try to extend a 12-match win streak in the quarterfinals against No. 11 Puyallup (13-4) Friday at 7:15 p.m.
The Bullpups also relied on strong efforts by setter Noella Migliuri and hitters hitter Jayna Humbert, Karolina Flanagan and Rowan Greenfield (just a freshman).
For Mount Rainier (16-5), senior setter Abby Tailloa stood out for her passing and fierce defense. Junior Avery Peterson and frosh Camryn Thesenvitz also earned mention.
Game 3: #10 Issaquah 3 #7 Emerald Ridge 1
21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19
Bryn Walcott, a hard-hitting sophomore, amassed 34 kills – including 11 in the final set, and the Eagles (23-5) soared into the quarterfinals, where No. 2 Lake Stevens (21-0) awaits at 7:15 Friday.
Emerald Ridge got off to a strong start behind the five kills of junior Korbyn Hansen, who finished with 10 to go along with 12 service points.
The Jaguars (16-6) play No. 15 Davis of Yakima (13-6) in a loser-out match Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: #2 Lake Stevens 3, #15 Davis 0
25-17, 25-17, 25-18
The unbeaten Vikings have their sights on the big prize and looked every bit the part of contenders with the sweep of feisty Davis of Yakima.
Laura Eichert, their 6-foot outside hitter who has committed to Oregon, was impressive in her MVP performance.
The Pirates (13-6) played well defensively overall, led by juniors Isa Garcia and Cheyenne Hull. They play No.7 Emerald Ridge (16-6) in a loser-out match Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Lake Stevens (21-0) advances to the quarterfinals and faces No. 10 Issaquah (23-5) Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Game 5: #5 Camas 3, #12 Mead 0
25-18, 25-22, 25-21
A seven-point rally late in the second set proved crucial for the Papermakers, who could have seen the match tied up 1-1.
Instead, they were set up for the sweep and completed it behind the play of MVP Gabriella Thompson. Fellow senior Quinn Pedersen contributed key points as well. Camas (19-3) clashes with No. 4 Wenatchee (16-1) in Friday’s quarterfinals at 7:15 p.m.
Mead (12-7), with a rich volleyball history that includes nine state championships, will try to bounce back in the consolation bracket against No. 13 Kamiak (16-5) at 3:30 p.m.
Game 6: #4 Wenatchee 3, #13 Kamiak 0
26-24, 25-12, 25-19
Senior Sienna Knell knows how to shift momentum.
With her Wenatchee squad trailing 24-20 in the opening set, Knell reeled off six straight serves to spark the win and the Panthers pulled away from there to land a spot in the quarterfinals. They take on No. 5 Camas (19-3) Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Jylee Jones, a 6-foot-1 senior middle blocker, was a force at the net, while sophomore libero Kate Berry keyed the defense.
Kamiak’s top efforts came from sophomore Alexis Moll and junior Ivanna Kosoday. The Knights (16-5) now play No. 12 Mead (12-7) in a loser-out match Friday at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Game 7: #8 Olympia 3, #9 Skyline 1
25-15, 24-26, 25-19, 25-12
Alice Fischer, the Bears’ senior setter, was steady throughout in running a smooth offense and finished as match MVP.
Their balanced attack was led by seniors Ellie Johnson, Addison Wilson and River Sutch as well as junior Netty Obungu.
The reward for Olympia (15-8) is a rematch with top-seeded Curtis (23-2) in what will be their fourth meeting of the season. Curtis has won the previous three, but the Bears have pushed them (3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Skyline (16-7) showed no quit and was sparked by senior Emma Gutke. The Spartans now have a loser-out contest against No. 16 Mount Si (11-9) Friday at 5:15 p.m. They beat the Wildcats twice earlier in the year.
Game 8: #1 Curtis 3, #16 Mount Si 0
25-11, 25-21, 25-13
Once the Vikings weathered a big, second-set push from Mount Si, they breezed into the quarterfinals with an eye on defending last year’s championship.
The Wildcats were up by six midway through that second set, but Curtis chipped away behind the big swings of junior Kayla Baker, then was all business in the third.
Curtis (23-2) clashes with No.8 Olympia (15-8) Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Baker smacked five of her match-best 11 kills in the second set and notched the MVP honor. Senior Selana Morales was a force early and junior Lucy McNaughton as strong at the service line, finishing with 16 service points.
Mount Si (11-9) drops into the consolation bracket and meets No. 9 Skyline (16-7) at 5:15 p.m. Friday.
www.elisportsnetwork.com
