The Tahoma High volleyball team ended a dramatic season Nov. 12 with losses to Mead and Jackson at the Class 4A state championships.

While the team may not have been a favorite to advance to the state tournament at the beginning of the season, the girls put the work in and it paid off with a trip to the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Wash.

The Bears lost in the first round to Mead High of Spokane, the team that went on to clinch the state championship. Tahoma was then eliminated with a second-round loss to Jackson.

“I told the kids if we wanted to play the two tallest teams in the state, we did,” coach Sally Eager said. “It was fun and a great experience at state and it was a great year.”

Eager, in her first year at the Tahoma helm, made her first trip to the state volleyball championships as a coach after 10 years of directing teams from the sidelines.

“These girls worked hard,” Eager said. “We are in a tough league, but this team played well.”

Against Mead, Tahoma lost in three games 25-15, 25-13 and 25-12.

Miranda Greiser had seven kills and 10 digs and Robyn Hwang picked up 10 assists to lead the Bear effort. Rachelle Frets had three blocks.

Against Everett’s Jackson High, Tahoma again fell in three straight, losing 16-25, 10-25 and 18-25.

Morgan Murrey had seven kills and Maria Bahlenhorst added five, along with 13 digs. Hwang had 12 assists and Frets had three service aces.

Photographs in the slide show courtesy Steve Vandegrift/Photographs of Life