In an afternoon and evening of long matches, the Mount Rainier volleyball team bowed out of the Seamount/South Puget Sound League 3A sub-district tournament at Mount Rainier by way of a 3-1 setback against Peninsula in its last chance to qualify for district.

Closely fought action mirrored the events of the entire day as the No. 6 SPSL Seahawks emerged with a 25-20 win in game No. 1. Taking charge of the middle and outside hitting, the Rams outfought their foes in long rallies. Each time No. 4 Seamount Mount Rainier threatened to pull away, Peninsula battled back to tie or lead by small margins. When the stretch run ensued, the Rams were at their best in a 25-22 win.

After continuous close matches, Mount Rainier finally wore down in 25-16 and 25-17 closing losses.

Junior outside hitter Katie Mulligan blasted 12 kills with three digs and three aces while teammate Alina Moss earned six kills to go along with nine digs, one block and one ace. Olivia Moss sustained five kills and Maletina Timoteo had 19 digs.

Mount Rainier began its day with an even more excruciating, although more satisfying, five-game win against SPSL No. 5 Enumclaw. The Rams seized control of the first game, 25-18, before jockeying back and forth to a 25-23 cliffhanging triumph. In a similar type situation, the Hornets forced game five by taking the next two games, 25-22 and 25-18. Renewing its resources, Mount Rainier took control in crucial moments to gain a 15-11 victory.

“The match was so close,” said a relieved Ram head coach Danny Lum-Lung. “We kept fighting and got some lucky breaks.”

Moss knocked down 18 kills with 12 digs and two aces as Mulligan pounded 16 kills with 11 digs and four aces. Amanda Yapp posted seven kills while Christina Postnikoff dished out 34 assists. Timoteo had 26 digs.

Round two featured a loss in four games to SPSL No. 3 Bonney Lake. This barn burner was another example of the captivating action of the tournament. Bonney Lake established leads of up to five points, but Mount Rainier kept close until it tied the game at 16-16. Each squad exchanged points for six additional dedlocks with the last one at 21-21.

Two consecutive Ram returns into the net placed the Panthers into a 23-21 lead. An out of bounds Bonney Lake hit drew the Rams within 23-22 before a Mount Rainier serve into net and a Bonney Lake return that skimmed off the top of the net closed out the game.

Showing slightly stronger hitting prowess, Bonney Lake broke away from a tight battle midway through the second game. Maddy Dornhoefer’s kill had Mount Rainier within 14-12 preceding the Panther closing salvos that clinched a 25-18 win despite the roaming efforts of outside hitter Mulligan.

Postnikoff and Moss spearheaded a Mount Rainier run that turned a 16-16 deadlock into a 19-16 lead. The Rams kicked into high gear for a 25-18 conquest. Beautifully burrowing for digs, the Mount Rainier back row was essential to the win.

Moss stated what would be the key to the entire tournament.

“We increased our intensity and talked more,” she explained.

Bonney Lake broke away to leads of 15-12 and 19-14 while Mount Rainier fought back to within 21-19. After the Panthers pounded away to a 24-19 advantage, the Rams saved four match points to trail only 24-23 following Moss’s dink shot. Taylor Watkins then elevated for a tip that sent Bonney Lake flowing to a 25-23 victory.

“We started slowly and missed six serves,” said Lum-Lung. “We turned our serves around and put up a mutch bigger fight.”
Mulligan led the way with 16 kills, six digs and one block. Moss hit 15 kills with 14 digs and two blocks. Postnikoff posted 33 assists. Yapp had eight kills as Timoteo dove for 28 digs. 

Highline then defeated Mount Rainier 25-12, 25-18, 18-25, and 25-23, to send the Rams into the last-chance to district match against Peninsula. After the Pirates dominated the first two games, Mount Rainier mustered up front row strength and dynamic digging for the third game. In the deciding game, the Rams were in contention throughout, but fell just short in the stretch run.

Mulligan’s 15 kills, seven digs, two blocks and three aces led the way for Mount Rainier. Moss contributed 13 kills, nine digs and four aces while Megan Daley notched eight digs with two aces. Postnikoff dished out 33 assists and Timoteo earned 23 digs.