Eagles start well but fall short in state volleyball

The Graham-Kapowsin Eagles were flying high one match into the 4A state high school volleyball tournament.

But their run toward a hoped-for championship was cut short with losses in their next two matches, ending a season that nevertheless was one to remember.

The Eagles rolled into last weekend's action in Kennewick at the Toyota Center on the strength of three victories in the district playoffs the week before. And they stayed on a roll in their opening-round match Friday in the state tourney by beating Lake Stevens in four sets (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20).

Later that day, the result was different in the quarterfinals. Emerald Ridge, a fellow member of the South Puget Sound League, dropped the Eagles in straight sets 25-17, 25-21 and 25-19.

From there, Graham-Kapowsin went into the consolation bracket and was bumped from further competition in a loser-out match against Puyallup. The Vikings prevailed 3 sets to 1.

Auburn Riverside came out on top in the two-day tournament, beating Mead in a five-set marathon in the championship match Saturday.

The tourney had an SPSL flavor. Along with G-K, Emerald Ridge and Puyallup, Curtis also was in the 16-team field, a quarter of which was representing the SPSL. And three of the league’s entries finished in the top six. Emerald Ridge topped Curtis in the match for third and fourth place, and Puyallup wound up sixth.