Eagles battle Pe Ell, Walla Walla Valley at 1B state tournament

YAKIMA — No. 13 seed Soap Lake opened the 1B State Volleyball Tournament with a win over No. 20 Pe Ell, advancing past the loser-out game with a 3-0 sweep of the Trojans. “They were ready to go,” Soap Lake Head Coach Niki Noble said. “They wanted to come out and win and show that we deserved to be placed where we are. Have a strong game and a strong win.” The Eagles jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, headlined by a 6-0 scoring run; after doubling up Pe Ell with a 16-8 lead, the Trojans cut the lead to 18-12 late in the set. Following an ace by Soap Lake junior Mylee Dana, the Eagles scored the set's final five points to win 25-12, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.