Wahluke girls start 0-4 in volleyball

MATTAWA - The Wahluke High School volleyball team got off to a 0-4 start last week, but their best match was their last of the week.

In a tournament at Kittitas, the Warriors won the second and third games against Reardan, falling three games to two. After Reardan won, 25-11, the Warriors won, 26-24 and 25-16. Reardan won the last two games, 25-20 and 15-11.

"Best games we've played," coach Rudi Christian said. "The girls gave 100 percent the entire match. Their level of play improved tremendously from earlier in the week."

The Warriors were led by the play of Maripaz Olivarez with 15/16 serving, three aces and 18 digs and Liliana Ramirez with 14/14 serving three aces and 18 digs.

Ericka Tapia went 17/19 serving with four aces and nine digs. Morgan Peterson had seven kills and three blocks, and Rebecca Ramirez went 15/15 serving.

The Warriors lost the first match of the day to Kittitas, 25-15, 25-13, 25-9. The highlight for the Warriors was 97 percent serving on 35 of 36 serves. Ramirez had six kills, and Olivarez had six digs.

The season started on Tuesday with a 13-25, 25-9, 25-13 defeat at the hands of Burbank. The girls were nervous and played timidly.

"They are still learning how to play together, and we needed this game to work the kinks out," Christian said. "Hoping next time we face Burbank we will compete at a higher level."

The most disappointing loss was by three games to one at Royal on Thursday. The Warriors were without their middle hitter and lost two more girls to injury during the match.

"The team learned a new rotation during the JV game, and there were several girls playing in new positions," Christian said. "The outcome of the game was frustrating to the girls and myself, but they have grown as a team and learned to rely more on each other on the court."

Tapia served eight aces, and Olivarez and Ramirez made eight digs each.