By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FEDERAL WAY - Mount Rainier fought hard before falling in three sets at Todd Beamer in SPSL 4A non league girls volleyball on Tues., Sept. 23.
"The girls played well," Beamer coach Patrick Taitano said. "They really passed well the first couple of sets and the young players did well. Overall, it was a nice effort. We're still grooming the players for positions. Milholland played well."

Like the steady torrents of rain outside, the Todd Beamer Titans fired continual point volleys at the Mount Rainier Rams in the first set.
Against the tough Titan middle blockers, the Ram passing fell short of the net after many receives of service were either incomplete or mishandled. Depth of serve kept MR on its heels as Beamer swept to a 25-8 first set win.

As the Titans made increasing use of their reserves, the competition level reached more equal footing. Mount Rainier overcame a 7-2 second set deficit to draw within 7-6 before Todd Beamer served to a 14-7 advantage. Sara Westhoff's twisting shot capped a four point Ram resurgence Mount Rainier stayed within three points, closing to 15-13 ahead of a fierce 10-3 Beamer charge to the second set victory.

By the third set, the teams were trading short scoring spurts equally. Six-foot, two-inch Megan Houston's kill from the left side capped a 4-0 Ram run for a 15-9 lead only to have the Titans run off five consecutive points, drawing within 16-15.

Outscoring its opponent 6-2, Beamer regained the lead at 21-18. Mount Rainier stayed close and closed within 22-21 on Westhoff's block. TB turned it on to lead 24-21, but the Rams rallied to deadlock the duel at 24-all. Three more ties occurred until TB scored two consecutive points for a 29-27 set and match triumph.

The Rams (0-5, overall) have been in a holding pattern since an early season injury to outside hitter Ally Hardy. She is expected to return within a week.

"Her injury has forced us into making makeshift lineups," said MR head coach Tom Wells. "The girls are giving a good effort. Sometimes, they try too hard to do things they're not ready for. We go seven person strong and some are making great adjustments for their inexperience."
Reed Copeland earned eight Beamer kills and four blocks while Catherine Miller collected 12 digs and two aces. Setter McKenna Milholland passed for 30 assists and with 14 digs and four aces.

For Mount Rainier, Houston slammed 11 kills. Alex Wilhite had 18 digs and three aces as setter Westhoff dealt out 12 assists and served two aces.

Todd Beamer is 3-1, overall while Mount Rainier is 0-5.