They returned just two starters this season and were pegged for a letdown.
Yet, the Kentwood High volleyball team found itself in familiar territory last week, playing in the Class 4A state tournament in Kennewick. It was Kentwood’s sixth-straight trip to the state’s biggest tournament.
The Conquerors opened the tournament with a resounding bang Thursday afternoon, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to upset Issaquah in five games 13-25, 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 16-14. The win over the Eagles proved to be the high point for the Conquerors, who were quickly dispatched by South Puget Sound League North Division rival Auburn Riverside and Lewis & Clark en route to an early exit from the tournament.
Despite coming home a day early, the season remained a success, Kentwood coach Bil Caillier insisted.
“You get in the moment, make some key wins and generate some hope and wonder what more you could have accomplished,” Caillier said. “Losing is tough. After a day, you realize how much you accomplished as a team. And this team accomplished a lot.”
Indeed it did. Outside hitters Erin Campbell and Elle Mortensen were the team’s only returning starters this fall. In addition, the Conquerors graduated league co-MVPs Jessie Genger (Gonzaga University), Lauren Campbell (Northern Arizona) and first-team all-leaguer Stephanie Shumaker (Lewis & Clark State).
Many doubted the Conquerors had what it would take to make a return trip to state. Not only returning, but coming up with a win in their first match was big, especially when considering how Kentwood went about grabbing the victory. Issaquah overpowered Kentwood in the first two games, before the Conquerors stole the momentum and the match.
Erin Campbell led the charge with 12 kills followed by Ally Patterson and Lychelle Roberts-Kirby, both of whom shipped in 10.
“It was so exciting,” Campbell said. “We played really, really hard. The first two games were a struggle, I guess we had to get warmed up. In the last three games, we just turned it on.”
As quickly as the Conquerors turned it on, that same momentum was turned off in a three-game quarterfinal sweep to Auburn Riverside. Auburn Riverside, which ended Kentwood’s 56-match league winning streak last month, cruised to the 25-16, 25-18, 25-11 win.
Ravens’ star Brooke Bray, who pounded out a school-record 51 kills in an opening-tournament win over Richland, tore apart the Conquerors with 21 kills.
“I thought we had a good chance against them,” Caillier said. “Brooke Bray just did things that we didn’t respond to, and we had a hard time stopping her. It’s not just the Brooke show, but she definitely stands out. She’s good.”
The Ravens’ five-game win over Richland earlier in the day helped spark the victory over Kentwood, AR coach Chris Leverenz said.
“That was a tough match, a hard-hitting intense game of volleyball. It was crazy, one thing after another,” Leverenz noted. “I definitely think we were ready for Kentwood. I think that win over Richland helped us get ready.”
Shortly after falling to the Ravens, the Conquerors had to turn around and play state-tournament nemesis Lewis & Clark. Lewis & Clark knocked off Kentwood in each of the last two state tournaments.
Last Thursday, the Tigers did it for a third year in a row, but this time they officially eliminated the Conquerors from trophy contention 18-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-20.
“We couldn’t sustain what we started in the first game and I think some girls were exhausted,” Caillier said. “They kept fighting.”
Campbell led the Kentwood attack with 17 kills while Roberts-Kirby chipped in 10. Hedlund pulled up 25 digs in the loss while Hanus dished out 40 assists.
Despite the loss and missing out on a trophy for the first time in six years, the season remained a success.
“I think it’s an accomplishment all on its own just to make it to state,” Campbell said. “A lot of teams don’t get to go. Gig Harbor is a good team and they didn’t make it. We played our hardest and it didn’t work out.”
Photographs in the slide show courtesy Steve Vandegrift/Photographs of Life
