Lions slash through Moses Lake

Kennewick defeats Moses Lake on senior night

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake girls volleyball team did not end their home season the way they wanted to.

With Chiefs fans loading the stands for Moses Lake's senior night, the volleyball team was swept aside by Columbia Basin Big-9 league rival Kennewick Tuesday night.

The Lions won three straight games 25-16, 25-12 and 25-13 to earn the league victory.

While the Lions earned the win, it wasn't without controversy.

With Moses Lake leading the first game 4-1, both teams found their rotations out-of-sync and match officials opted for a "do-over," Moses Lake head volleyball coach Amy Utter said.

"The got us together and said, 'We're just gonna have a do-over,' " she said. "That is absolutely not what the rules say to do. We didn't come out with the same intensity."

Moses Lake senior Iesha Garza said her team was prepared for Kennewick prior to the restart.

"We were pumped in the beginning," she said.

When the officials decided to restart the match, Moses Lake senior Shelby Gonzales said the decision hindered her team.

"It was a momentum killer from the start," she said.

In the first game of the match, the Lions clawed their way to an early 13-11 lead before the Chiefs stormed back to take a 16-13 advantage.

Moses Lake couldn't maintain their lead as Kennewick surged back to win the match 25-16.

Utter said it was unclear if her team was distracted playing their final game of the season at Moses Lake High School.

"It was senior night," she said. "I don't know if the kids were distracted by the emotion of the night, but we were pretty inconsistent."

Following the game one loss, the Chiefs couldn't respond to the Kennewick attack.

"During the season we have been progressing with passing consistency and hitting consistence," she said. "That wasn't the case tonight."

In game two of the match, the Lions roared out to a 10-1 advantage before winning game two by 13 points.

Utter was not pleased with her team's performance.

"I'm really frustrated," she said. "We took some steps back tonight."

The Lions completed the sweep of the Chiefs with a 12-point victory in game three.

Gonzales and Garza had six kills each for Moses Lake.

Fancher led the Chiefs with 13 assists and Heidi Smith had 10 digs.

The Chiefs were frustrated with the outcome and Utter said her team should have played better.

"It's always a disappointment when you don't win," she said. "It's even more of a disappointment when you don't play your best. It would have been nice to get a win tonight for the seniors."

Tuesday night was the final night the seniors would play a home volleyball match at Moses Lake and senior Shelby Kenner said her team played poorly.

"It is one of the worst games we have ever played," Kenner said. "That was a bad way to go out on our home floor."

The Chiefs travel to Eastmont Thursday and Garza said her team needs to refocus for the remainder of the season.

"We have to go out and play hard for the week we have left," Garza said.

While the Chiefs season is coming to a close, Garza, Gonzales and Kenner have enjoyed playing volleyball for Moses Lake High School.

"We've played together since we were 12," Kenner said. "We've gotten rid of a lot of our differences along the way."

Gonzales said she will always remember suiting up for the Chiefs.

"I'll miss the memories," she said. "And friendships."