Kamiak takes 4th at Class 4A tourney

Published 11:57 pm Saturday, November 10, 2007

KENNEWICK — A quick roster check foreshadowed what would likely happen when the Kamiak High School volleyball team played its final match of the season.

Kamiak’s experience-rich squad featured eight seniors, while the Knights’ opponent, Curtis High of University Place, had none.

Of course, seniors aren’t effective unless they work well together, have talent and play hard. Fortunately for Kamiak, its seniors made a collective impact that elevated the team to new heights.

Kamiak beat Curtis 3-1 Saturday during the Class 4A state championships at the Toyota Center. Ignited by seniors Devin Larson (49 assists), Julia Church (14 kills), Mahogany Dodd (13 kills, 16 digs) and Jordan Keller (eight kills, seven blocks), Kamiak finished fourth, winning the first top-8 trophy in program history.

“It’s a great feeling,” Kamiak coach Debra Crawford said. “We came here to play in the trophy round.”

The top eight teams in the 16-team two-day tourney got trophies. Last year Kamiak went 1-2 and didn’t place. This time the Knights were 3-1, with their lone defeat coming in a five-game quarterfinal Friday against Lewis &Clark, which advanced to the championship.

Crawford said she was proud of how Kamiak recovered from its loss against L&C.

“They absolutely played with heart (Saturday),” she said of her players.

Kamiak, ranked No. 3 in 4A (Washington State Coaches Association poll), ensured it would snare a trophy earlier Saturday with a sweep against No. 4 Skyview of Vancouver. Rebounding impressively from its Friday quarterfinal loss, Kamiak won the loser-out battle 25-11, 25-15, 25-21.

Kamiak’s Larson said she could tell the Knights would have a good day based on the team’s mood Saturday morning. The Knights agreed to get over their disappointment and refocus, she said.

“We didn’t get to where we wanted,” Larson said before playing Curtis, referring to Kamiak’s championship dreams, “but we’re still gonna go for this and we’re still here. For a lot of us, it’s the last time we’re ever gonna play together.”

Kamiak has eight seniors, third-most among the 4A tourney’s 16 teams.

“We really wanted to end it well,” said Melissa Fredericks, Kamiak’s senior defensive specialist/libero. “Everyone’s kind of going in different directions after this. It was just good to be able to (win) together for one last time.”

In its victory over Skyview, Kamiak was led by Larson (28 assists), Kierra Riley (eight kills) and Bailey Jones (six kills, five stuff blocks).