District volleyball champions are going back to state

The Camas volleyball team had a smashing good time sweeping Union off the warehouse floor in the district championship match.

“Beating Union in three builds great pride for Camas,” said Carly Banks, who delivered nine kills and two blocks.

“It feels so great to shut them out and claim our zip code and our colors,” said Lauren Harris, after she racked up 14 kills, 14 digs and three blocks.

The Papermakers rolled out to a 12-4 lead in the first game, as the Titans hit their returns out of bounds and were called for violations at the net. Abby Young served an ace for Camas to make it 13-4.

Sophi Jacobson and Christina Elliott won their battles at the net for more Papermaker points. Jacobson, Harris and Cassie Bailie hammered home kills to give Camas a 25-13 victory.

“Every single girl on the court had heart and gave it their all,” Bailie said. “This feels amazing. All the hard work we have put into this season has paid off.”

Union gained an 11-4 advantage in the second game, before the Papermakers came roaring back. Jacobson slammed the ball off a Titan for a breaking point. Hailie Hansel served two aces during the comeback to tie the score at 11-11. Camas took a 17-15 lead on kills by Bailie, Harris and Banks, before Union tied it back up at 18. The Papermakers closed out the set on a 7-4 swing to win 25-22.

“We weren’t about to give them a set,” Harris said. “It just proved how strong we are as a whole team and how well we work together.”

Banks said the battle got so overwhelming, she had to close her eyes, breathe deep and stay focused. She nailed the winner in the second set at the net.

“We just wanted to win and finish the game,” she said. “It makes me want to play a lot harder and be more accurate. It makes me want to kill the ball even more.”

Harris made back-to-back blocks at the net in the third set. The second block tied the score at 14. Harris added two more kills to put the Papermakers up 18-14. Bailie put a little something extra behind the final two kills to win the match 25-22.

“It was really good way to finish it off. I was so pumped up,” Bailie said. “My team never stops surprising me. We’re a family and we have each other’s backs. I’m so glad to be a part of it.”

Camas finished in fourth place at the bi-district tournament, at Kentwood High School. The Papermakers defeated Bethel and Olympia in the first two rounds Friday, before coming up short in a five-set match to Kentwood in the semifinals Saturday. Camas could not recover against Emerald Ridge in the consolation finals.

The Papermakers play Mead at 9:45 a.m. Friday, in the first round of the state tournament, at St. Martin’s University, in Lacey.

“I hope we can go as far as we possibly can, and make it to the top of the state,” Harris said. “Knowing we will always be there for each other is such a great feeling for a team.”