By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mt. Rainier demonstrated that it was rounding into playoff shape with a demonstrative 3-0 SPSL 4A North Division volleyball win at Thomas Jefferson on Mon., Oct. 6.

With a previously injured, strong outside hitter on the verge of returning, as well, Ram head coach Tom Wells is optimistic.
"We're making excellent progress," he said. "The Kent Meridian match was the first of two building up towards the playoffs. We're in good position."

Mt. Rainier ascended to 2-1 league and 2-7 overall while Thomas Jefferson stood at 0-3 and 1-8.

Driving in high gear from the outset, the Rams served and volleyed for the first six points of the set and continued to rock the Raiders repeatedly with outside hitter Megan Houston pounding away powerfully for kills.

Dominating the action in an 18-6 command, Mt. Rainier devastated Thomas Jefferson for six consecutive points as part of a 7-2 rush to victory.
Taking the opportunity to mix in reserves with a few starters, the Rams created a more equitable atmosphere of competition in the second set.
Three ties of score and closeness of scoring ensued until the Raiders trailed by an 11-10 margin. Good quality serving from Sara Westhoff enabled Houston and the Mt. Rainier hitters to rack up five straight points. from this juncture, the squads battled fairly evenly until the Rams registered a 25-18 win.

Seven ties of score were featured in the early to middle stages of the third set with the last being 11-11. Houston's kill and a block from Cloe DeBiase spearheaded a 5-1 Ram breakout as Mt. Rainier inexorably progressed to a 25-16 clincher.

"We were talking it up," said Houston who blasted 14 kills with a .345 hitting percentage. "Our serves were in and we minimized our hitting errors."

Sara Westhoff set up 20 assists and also served six aces.
"We've been playing together long enough to get used to each other," she said. "We know our sources of strength and where people will be (positioned)."

Leading in Ram digs were Alex Wilhite with seven and Houston with six.