黑料福利社

YAKIMA, Wash. -- For White Swan, there's not much left to do now but take the good with the bad.

Adna beat the Cougars in four sets, 16-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18 in the fifth- and sixth-place match at the Class 2B state volleyball tournament Saturday in the SunDome.

But even in defeat, the Cougars were able to achieve something no other team in school history had done before them - taking home a state trophy.

The Cougars' sixth-place finish was the mark of a team that had risen from its past hardships at the state tournament. It was also proof that they had accomplished their primary goals for the season.

"Considering we made it to state the last three years, this is the first time we've won a game, let alone matches," Cougars coach Marcy Sanchez said. "We blanked out the first two years with basically the same kids.

"They worked as a hard as they could. I think they just came up a little short. I couldn't be more proud."

The Cougars were also the first team in school history to win three significant trophies in a single season - league and district titles, along with their state trophy.

"Having three trophies in one season is definitely a big up for us," White Swan senior outside hitter Cayla Jones said. "We came in here last year and didn't get a trophy at all and went home on the first day. It's a big accomplishment for us."

The most decisive set of the match was the third. The Cougars had jumped out to an early 10-3 lead, but unforced errors by White Swan and increasing pressure by the Pirates helped erase that advantage.

The Pirates went on to tie the set at 24 following the longest rally of the match, which was capped off by Adna outside hitter Shanay Dotson's kill. Adna secured the next two points on an attack error by Jones and a kill by middle hitter Kendall Camoza.

"I know since our freshman year we had one goal in mind, and that was to get to state, and when we got to state, we wanted to win a trophy," said senior middle hitter Emily Botkin. "This year we accomplished much more."

The Cougars advanced to the medal round by narrowly sweeping Okanogan in consolation play, 26024, 25-23, 25-21.

White Swan vs. Okanogan highlights: Marisa Spencer 24 assists, 2 aces, 2 kills; Barb Whitesell 2 aces, 6 digs; Cayla Jones 2 aces, 6 kills, 10 digs; Nocona Abrams 4 kills, 3 blocks, 5 digs; Emily Botkin 2 aces, 10 kills, 5 blocks, 5 digs; Marisol Romero 2 kills, 5 assists, 3 blocks.

White Swan vs. Adna highlights: Jones 6 kills, 3 aces, 12 digs; Botkin 11 kills, 6 blocks; Abrams 8 kills, 8 blocks; Spencer 19 assists, 2 aces.