A day for revenge ended in disappointment after the Camas volleyball team lost to Emerald Ridge in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament Friday, at St. Martin's University, in Lacey. The Papermakers snipped at the Jaguars' heels several times during the three sets, but they could never get over the hump against the team that defeated them for third place in the bi-district tournament.
The Papermakers delivered four goals in the final 21 minutes of the first half to defeat Wentachee 4-0 in the first round of the 4A state girls soccer tournament Wednesday, at Doc Harris Stadium.
It didn't take long for the Camas football team to catch playoff fever. Monroe pulled a fast one by recovering a short opening kick off to begin the game. It turned out to be the shot in the arm the Papermakers needed. Michael DiGenova intercepted a pass on the next play to turn the tables for Camas. The Papermakers scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions and buried the Bearcats 55-20 Friday, at Doc Harris Stadium. "It's always great to start with a play like that in a big game like this one," DiGenova said. "As long as we keep putting points on the board, and the defense keeps playing like they play, good things will come."
The top of the podium belonged to Bellermine Prep, but the Camas girls cross country runners looked each other in the eye and didn't see an inch of regret. "We all raced as hard as we could," said Alexa Efraimson. "It was a lot more competitive this year than last year." The Papermakers finished in second place out of the top 16 schools in the state Saturday, at the Sun Willows Golf Course, in Pasco. Bellermine Prep won the title by 13 points. This is the third state trophy for the Camas girls, after they won championships in 2011 and 2012. "It was fun to have a second chance to go out and do it again," said Alexa Jones. "You never know what the outcome is going to be. You just have to trust yourself and know your teammates are going to work as hard as you do."
Dedication and determination paid off for the Papermaker girls swimmers when they became district champions Saturday, at Kelso High School. Camas racked up 376 points to defeat league champion Union by 39 points. "We have definitely worked for it," said sophomore Corinne Bintz. "There is no question that everybody did everything they could today and every morning at practice at 5:15 a.m." Bintz, Anna Panebianco, Juliann Reed and Sierra Colletto propelled the Papermakers to first place in the 200-meter medley relay. They broke the pool record with a time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. "To be able to do that in the first race of the day just set the tone for all of the girls," Reed said. "We will win, whatever it takes."
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 Camas High School volleyball, soccer, football, cross country and swimming teams are out in full force this week chasing state and regional championships.
Washougal, Hockinson and Aberdeen will play sudden death football starting at 7 p.m. today, at Kelso High School. The three teams will face each other in a round robin format. One team starts with the football on the 25-yard line, while the other plays defense. The objective is to score a touchdown or kick a field goal in four downs. The rounds continue until one team prevents the other from tying the score, or takes the lead after making a stop. The Panthers fell into this predicament after Hockinson defeated them 27-14 Friday, at Fishback Stadium. Abderdeen beat Ridgefield on the same night to force a three-way tie for third place in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. Only one of these teams will earn a trip to Tumwater Saturday.
After locking up the league title, the Camas volleyball team will host the district championship match Wednesday. "It's a good accomplishment for the girls, but they're always looking ahead," said head coach Julie Nidick. "Ultimately, their goal is to get back to state. But you can never overlook and opponent or a step in the process. That's when an upset can happen." The Papermakers are going to the bi-district tournament Friday and Saturday, at Kentwood High School, but they want that number-one seed. That takes a win Wednesday.
The Papermakers are the queens of soccer in Camas. They have two victories against their city rivals to prove it. "Being in the program for as many years as we have, it feels good to see all the hard work pay off," said junior defender Sarah Tennyson. "We are finally the league and district champions." Tennyson headed in a perfectly placed corner kick by Maddy Belzer in the 30th minute of a 1-0 victory for the Papermakers against the Union Titans Saturday, at Doc Harris Stadium. "Without the team effort, it doesn't happen," Belzer said. "Nothing matters unless we work as a team."
