Sports
EHS Girls Volleyball Fight Their Way to State Tourney
Strong serving, defense, and a committed and focused team effort propels Enumclaw to the State Tournament.
The Enumclaw girls volleyball team happily chanted 'On to state! On to state!' Saturday after posting a 3-2 record at the West Central District 3A volleyball tournament at Auburn Mountainview High School to secure a berth in the 2011 WIAA 3A state girls volleyball championships.
The swing games that secured the berth for the Hornets were wins Saturday over Kennedy in three sets (25-13, 25-15, 26-24) and a state berth-clinching win over league rival Peninsula in four sets (25-11, 25-17, 18-25, 25-22).
The victory was a culmination of overcoming key injuries and coming together as high-energy, fiercely competitive team.
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"We learned a lot about ourselves as a team when (Haylee Mae Dennis) went out with an ankle injury," Enumclaw head coach Jackie Carel said. "I am very happy for this group of young ladies."
The Hornets opened Saturday against Kennedy High School and came out of the blocks strong with tough serving and defense all over the court. Enumclaw dominated the first two sets and fought out a tough third 26-24. The win gave the Hornets some extra rest time while Peninsula-Bonney Lake slugged it out on the next court going to four sets.
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"It was a huge energy saver for us," Carel said in regard winning the first match of the day quickly in straight sets. "We also didn't have to overuse Haylee Mae."
Then came the showdown with Peninsula. "We had a bit of mental edge on Peninsula coming into this match," Carel said.
The Hornets came out with aggressive serving and all-out hustle defensively. Katie Holland's serving jump started a 12-1 run that turned a 3-2 Peninsula lead in set one into a 14-4 advantage for Enumclaw. The girls would not look back as powerful plays up front by Dennis and key digs by Olivia Bannerot kept rallies alive throughout the first set and led to a victory 25-11. These two things would be a huge key to the Hornets all match long.
"Our serving was huge, and Olivia's hustle on defense helped us get off to a great start," Dennis said.
The Hornets would keep rolling in the second set breaking open a 15-all tie with a decisive 10-2 set closing spurt to take a huge 2-0 lead in the best of five set contest.
After dropping set three 25-18, Enumclaw put the foot on the gas pedal and did not let up with continued balance in all phases of the game. The Hornets jumped to a 10-3 lead and would hold the advantage throughout, in spite of a late Seahawk run thanks to some short serves getting in between the Hornet defense. Enumclaw held on 25-22 clinching its first state tournament berth in a couple of seasons.
Dennis lauded her teammates for continuing to battle and coming together as team when she was hurt.
"I am so proud of them," she said. "It took a total team efforrt to get to state."
She continue, "It's exciting. I went as freshman, and to go back is just thrilling."
Enumclaw advances as the No. 6 seed out of the West Central District to the 2011 WIAA State 3A Girls Volleyball Tournament next Friday and Saturday at St. Martin's College in Lacey.