Capsules of local teams in the state volleyball tournaments

The Class 4A, 3A and 2A state volleyball tournaments take place this week at Yakima Valley SunDome.

The 20-team 3A tournament starts Thursday with finals being held Friday. The 16-team 4A and 2A tournaments start Friday with finals being held Saturday.

Here’s a look at the five local squads competing this week:

LAKE STEVENS

Record: 16-1

About the Vikings: Third-seeded Lake Stevens opens tournament play against No. 14 West Valley (Yakima) at 8:45 a.m. Friday. The Vikings went 8-0 in league play this season on their way to a fifth straight Wesco 4A title and finished second at the 4A Wes-King Bi-District Tournament, falling in straight sets to top-seeded Bothell in the title game. Lake Stevens is making its fifth straight state tournament appearance and finished as the runner-up in 2019. The Vikings picked up nine of their 16 wins in straight sets and lost multiple sets in just three matches all season. Lake Stevens is 8-1 against state qualifying teams in 4A and 3A, including a 3-1 regular season win over Bothell. The Vikings feature a balanced attack with five players averaging 1.6 kills per set or more. Junior Isabella Christensen averages a team-best 2.9 kills per frame. Senior Anna Schroedl adds 2.6 kills and 1.4 digs per set. Junior Peri Hoshock leads Lake Stevens with 1.1 blocks per set to go along with 1.6 kills. Sophomore Alyss Kelly averages a team-high 2.4 digs per frame while junior Kennedy Steen adds 2.1 digs. Sophomore Katelyn Eichert leads the Vikings with 8.6 assists per set.

JACKSON

Record: 13-7

About the Timberwolves: No. 13 Jackson faces fourth-seeded Graham-Kapowsin in the first round at 10:45 a.m. Friday. The Timberwolves finished second in Wesco 4A this season at 5-3 and qualified for state after winning the fifth-place game in the 4A Wes-King Bi-District Tournament. Jackson is making its first state tournament appearance since 2017 and is looking to pick up a win in the first round for the first time since its third-place finish in 2012. The Timberwolves went 0-6 this season in games against state qualifiers in 4A and 3A. Senior Ellina Powell averages a team-high 3.2 kills per set while adding 3.1 assists and 2.3 digs. Junior Reece Nelson adds 2.4 kills and 3.0 digs per set. Senior Marissa Martinez leads the Timberwolves with 4.2 digs per set, and junior Aaliyah Lutali’s 4.7 assists per frame paces Jackson.

Arlington’s Chloe Lewis, left to right, Emily Mekelburg, Malia Shepherd and Chloe Fochesato celebrate a point against Stanwood during a Class 3A District 1 Tournament semifinal match on Nov. 11 at Marysville Pilchuck High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

ARLINGTON

Record: 18-3

About the Eagles: No. 11 Arlington opens tournament play against sixth-seeded Bishop Blanchet at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. The Eagles went 14-1 in league play this season on their way to a second consecutive Wesco 3A/2A title. All 14 of Arlington’s league wins were in straight sets. The Eagles qualified for state after finishing third in the 3A District 1 Tournament. It’s the second straight state trip for Arlington, which went 3-3 against state qualifying teams in 4A and 3A this season, including a pair of tight five-set losses to rival Stanwood. Senior Emily Mekelburg leads Arlington with 4.6 kills per set on an efficient .414 hitting percentage. Senior Taylor Pederson leads the Eagles with 4.9 assists while adding 1.8 kills and 1.5 digs per frame. Senior Maila Shepherd adds 3.2 kills and 2.1 digs per frame. Junior Chloe Lewis paces Arlington with 3.0 digs per set while senior Brookelynn Ramey adds 4.5 assists.

Snohomish’s Kelsey Nichols sends the ball past Arlington’s Ellie Salstrom during a match on Sept. 29 in Arlington. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

SNOHOMISH

Record: 16-4

About the Panthers: No. 13 Snohomish faces 20th-seeded Kentlake in the opening round at 9:45 a.m. Thursday. The Panthers are one of eight teams playing a first-round game in the 20-team tournament, which gives opening-round byes to the top 12 seeds. Snohomish finished second in Wesco 3A/2A this season at 13-2 and qualified for state after finishing fourth at the 3A District 1 Tournament. The Panthers are making their fourth straight trip to the state tournament. Snohomish is 1-3 against teams that qualified for state in 3A this season. Three different Panthers average 2.0 kills per set or more, led by senior Anneke Hanson’s 2.2. Junior Livi Harrison averages a team-best 2.9 digs per frame to go along with 2.0 kills. Sophomore Kelsey Nichols adds 2.0 kills and 2.5 digs per set. Senior Katie Stern leads Snohomish with 3.7 assists per frame and junior Ayla Grant adds 2.8.

Stanwood players celebrate a point during a match against Arlington on Oct. 21 at Stanwood High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

STANWOOD

Record: 15-4

About the Spartans: Ninth-seeded Stanwood opens tournament play against No. 8 Auburn Riverside at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. The Spartans finished third in Wesco 3A/2A at 12-3 and finished second in the 3A District 1 Tournament. Stanwood, which is making its fourth state appearance in the past six full-length seasons, went 2-2 against 3A state qualifying teams, with both wins coming in five sets over rival Arlington. Junior Barrett Anderson paces the Spartans with 3.3 kills per set while adding 2.7 digs. Seniors Baylor Hezel and Karli Niegemann each average 2.8 digs per frame, and senior Grace Henken dishes out a team-high 6.2 assists per set to go with 1.8 digs. Senior Olivia Rueckert adds 2.4 kills per frame on a .333 hitting percentage.