DES MOINES — The Quilcene Rangers ripped through the SeaTac League volleyball tournament before running into a familiar and formidable foe.
After a pair of three-set victories to open the tournament, Quilcene fell to Christian Faith 25-20, 25-14, 25-16 in the championship game at Evergreen Lutheran High School.
The Rangers (15-2) will host Shoreline Christian in a Class 1B Tri-District tournament play-in game Thursday at 6 p.m.
If Quilcene wins, it will face Neah Bay at Evergreen Lutheran on Saturday at noon.
Clallam Bay also has a play-in game Thursday, at Evergreen Lutheran at 6 p.m.
If the Bruins win, they will travel back to Des Moines on Saturday to play Providence Classical Christian at 10:30 a.m.
Earlier this season, Quilcene accomplished the rare feat of winning one set against Christian Faith in a 3-1 loss, but the Rangers were again swept in Thursday’s league championship game.
“Christian Faith had very strong hitting, and our work at the net was a little weak in the games,” Quilcene coach Joni Crowell said.
“We have watched video and will make some adjustments to our play in case we play them again this year.”
If the Rangers get past the Red Devils, they won’t have to face Eagles, the only team to beat them this season, again until the Tri-District championship Saturday night.
Katie Love had five kills and four digs for Quilcene in Thursday’s title game.
“We had very strong hitting from Bailey Kieffer and Katie Love,” Crowell said.
“Alex Johnson played very hard in the back row, putting up 17 digs and really learning how to read the hitters.”
Johnsen, a senior, also was 8 for 8 serving.
Fellow senior Megan Weller was 9 for 9 serving with two kills and two digs, while junior Katie Bailey served 11 for 11 with an ace and had a pair of digs.
Allison Jones contributed five digs and 13 assists, and Emily Hitt had nine digs and was 8 of 10 serving.
Quilcene opened the league tournament with a 25-20, 25-7, 25-8 win over Mount Rainier Lutheran.
“[We] had trouble gaining momentum in the first game, but dominated in the second and third game,” Crowell said.
Bailey was a perfect and dominant 28 for 28 serving with four aces. She also had three digs for the Rangers.
Kieffer served 12 for 13 with three aces and had six kills.
The Rangers then defeated Puget Sound Adventist in the semifinals 25-20, 25-21, 25-12. The Sharks went on to finish third.
Johnsen again led Quilcene with 17 digs while serving 11 for 12.
Bailey had another perfect serving performance, going 14 for 14 with one ace.
Weller was 17 for 19 serving with four aces and had six digs.
Hitt had three aces on 15 of 16 serving to go a long with four kills and five digs, while Love had eight kills and Elysah Schryver finished with three blocks.
Klahowya 3, Chimacum 0
SILVERDALE — The Cowboys were swept in their regular season finale by the Olympic League 1A champion Eagles 25-18, 28-26, 25-22.
Chimacum (8-8) will host the winner of Monday’s match between Seattle Christian and Bellevue Christian in the first round of the Class 1A West Central District tournament Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
District pricing applies to attend the match.
Audrey Thacker was 24 for 24 serving with three aces in the loss to Klahowya last Tuesday. She also had 10 digs, three kills and two blocks for Chimacum.
Taylor Carthum had 13 assists and five digs and went 10 of 12 serving.
Ryley Eldridge finished with 19 digs while going 6 of 7 on serves, and Shanya Nesbit had 10 digs for the Cowboys.
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Compiled using team reports.
