Camas volleyball team digs for a cure and defeats Skyview

On the night of Cassie Bailie’s “Dig For A Cure” senior project, the Camas High School volleyball team delivered a 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23 victory against Skyview.

It was sweet revenge for the Papermakers after they got swept by the Storm Oct. 1.

“We did it with a lot of heart,” Bailie said. “We had a set plan the last time, but we didn’t execute on that plan. This time, we actually put all the pieces together and we had a lot of heart, hustle and determination.”

Lauren Harris led the attack with 12 kills, 13 digs and 2 blocks. Christina Elliott contributed 37 assists and 9 digs. Abby Young added 17 digs, 1 kill and 2 aces. Bailie nailed 9 kills and 8 digs. Sophi Jacobsen fired 5 kills and 5 blocks. Carly Banks had 5 kills and 4 blocks.

Camas trailed by six points in the first set before catching fire and winning by four.

“When you have a big event like ‘Digs For Pink,’ you never know how the team is going to respond,” said head coach Julie Nidick. “We came out flat in that first set and got behind, but then we settled down and started battling back. Before we knew it, we had the lead and got the win.

“That sort of flipped the switch for our girls,” she added. “They realized they could do this.”

Skyview did not recover until gaining a lead on some well-placed serving in the third set. The Papermakers cut it from five to two points late in the game, but the Storm prevailed and forced another set.

Nidick told the girls to take a breather and get back to work. She did not want to see them lose their advantage.

“I’ve seen it way too many times when a team wins the first two and tanks it in the next three,” she said.

But this was Camas’ night to shine. Both teams volleyed back and forth before Erika Weber drove home the winner for the Papermakers. Jacobsen and Harris served aces that put Camas in the driver’s seat. Jacobsen punched home another winner to make it 20-15. Bailie had a kill and Harris delivered two kills, including the final one on match point.

“This was the first time that our attack has been that well-balanced,” Nidick said. “We didn’t have to rely on one person to get the job done. They were all doing a good job.”

Both teams came up with some crazy saves to keep their volleys alive. Even the final point was in question until the net judge gave it to Camas.

“Some of the balls were blocked and some were shanked to the bleachers. But somebody kept digging them up and we were still going,” Nidick said. “This goes back to that heart and athleticism. Both teams have it. That made for a special night.”

The CHS volleyball program raised about $550 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. They sold 100 pink “Dig For A Cure” T-shirts. Bailie thanked her teammates, coaches, students, teachers, and the community for their help.

“It felt like all the hard work we put into this paid off,” she said. “The crowd, the band and everything put together made it a special night.”