The Mount Si Wildcat volleyball team’s quest for a state title fell short last Thursday, Nov. 20, as they only won one of the three matches they played and failed to land a trophy in their second straight state appearance. Mount Si picked up the eighth place crown in 2007.
The Wildcats opened with what looked to be a fairly winnable morning game against Lakes, the number-five seed from the West Central/Southwest District. However, a theme that has become somewhat common during this postseason reared its ugly head as Mount Si fell 25-16, 19-25, 25-14, 19-25, 15-9 to the Lancers.
“We were inconsistent,” said Wildcat assistant coach Dave Bachman by phone from Kennewick. He certainly can back that up, as Mount Si had a solid lead in the first stanza ,only to be dominated down the stretch in that frame and fall. It was a see-saw battle from there. Miranda Pratt had 31 kills in the match along with 14 digs; Robyn Schirmer had 45 assists and 12 digs, while Zoe Gogan, in her first varsity state tournament action (she was there last year, but didn’t play) had a solid opener, with eight kills. Bethany Frieler had 28 digs.
The loss moved them into a tough loser-out afternoon match with Auburn Mountainview. The Wildcats showed they still had fight in them, taking care of the Lions in four, knocking out a team that had been considered a tournament title favorite. Scores were 28-26, 25-11, 20-25 and 25-21 as Mount Si moved into a late contest against Kennedy with the win. Pratt had 31 more kills in addition to 10 digs and six service aces. Gogan had another good match with eight kills and five-and-a-half blocks, and Mackenzie Peerboom had seven-and-a-half blocks. Frieler added 21 more digs along with four aces.
After a dinner and rest break, the Wildcats late in the evening returned to the Toyota Center , the Kennewick arena where the tournament was being held, and faced the Kennedy Lancers. Mount Si was looking to make the Friday trophy game. The Seamount League’s Lancers had other ideas, winning 28-26, 25-11, 20-25 and 25-21. This is the second time this fall that Kennedy has eliminated a Mount Si team in state competition; the Wildcat girls’ soccer team was taken out by the Lancers 2-1 at Highline Stadium in a second round game Saturday, Nov. 15.
Mount Si finished the season 18-6. The Wildcats once again have major graduation losses, as Pratt, Peerboom, Frieler and Cortney Tubbs move on. Mount Si next year will be anchored by the likes of Schirmer, Shelagh Macaulay, and a couple of young rising stars in Amanda Gates and Amanda Beekman.
