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Fall Sports Preview hits stands Friday

by IAN BIVONA
Sports Reporter | September 5, 2024 1:20 AM

MOSES LAKE — With teams returning to the practice field — and courts — over the previous weeks, it’s an exciting time for high school sports across the Columbia Basin. The Columbia Basin Herald’s Fall Sports Preview runs in Friday’s edition of the paper, highlighting local cross country, girls soccer and volleyball teams. 

Each of the 12 local schools will have a dedicated story to one of its fall sports teams; at Almira/Coulee-Hartline, the Warrior volleyball team is looking to build off its fourth-place finish at the 1B State Volleyball Tournament; similarly, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague volleyball squad returns the bulk of its starters off of last year’s 2B state runner-up team. A few teams will have younger players stepping into more significant roles this fall, like with the Moses Lake slowpitch softball and Wahluke girls soccer teams.  

Rounding out the Fall Sports Preview will be coverage of Ephrata cross country, MLCA/CCS volleyball, Othello, Quincy and Royal girls soccer and volleyball teams from Soap Lake, Warden and Wilson Creek. Stories will feature player and coach interviews, photos from practices and team schedules. 

Coverage previewing the 2024 football season was in the Columbia Basin Herald’s Gridiron Guide, which ran in the August 30 edition of the paper. 

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline sophomore Grace Okamoto serves the ball during a game in the 2023 season. The Warriors took fourth place in last year’s 1B State Volleyball Tournament.
 
 
    Royal forward Audrey Bergeson, in black, advances toward the net during a game last fall.
 
 
    The Wilson Creek Devils take on MLCA/CCS in a volleyball game last fall.
 
 
    The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos are coming off a second-place finish at the 2B State Volleyball Tournament and return five of six starters from a season ago.
 
 


    Othello girls soccer players and coaches celebrate after defeating Ephrata in the Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament last season.
 
 
    Soap Lake blockers rise to attempt to block the ball during a game in 2023. The Eagles qualified for the 1B State Volleyball Tournament for the first time in 32 years last season.