Kittitas hands DW volleyball playoff loss

DAYTON–The DW Lady Wolfpack dropped a three-set match at Kittitas in post-season play Tuesday after finishing third in the East Division, and closed out the playoffs with a consolation home contest against White Swan on Wednesday, March 24 (report next week). Kittitas prevailed 18-25, 19-25, 12-25 to advance to the championship match against WWVA.

DW played its final 2021 covid season match with a competitive but losing contest against the Columbia-Burbank Lady Coyotes here Saturday after winning against River View in the season's second-to-last game Thursday.

The Lady Wolfpack finished the season 3-7 while improving from one match to the next. "I'm proud of the way the girls fought back today," observed Head Coach Tracy Barron. "They came together as a team, working hard to overcome mental errors."

And in their last match, work hard they did. Both teams were fairly even with set scores 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25.

DW won in the third set, but weren't able to keep the momentum going into the fourth.

DW's three senior players-Teagen Larsen, Katherine Houchin and Sadie Seney-stepped up for their final career game.

Larsen, a setter, counted 13 assists and two kills, plus a pair of aces during serving. Defensively, she made four digs.

Houchin, a senior outside hitter, was also prolific on offense with six kills and three ace serves. She helped with eight digs.

Outside hitter Seney was a force on offense with 11 kills and two ace serves while showing her grit with 10 digs and three blocks while defending.

Facing River View on March 18, Dayton-Waitsburg won in five sets, rallying after a first-set loss to win 15-25, 25-23, 25-14, 22-25, 15-9.

"The team worked hard tonight and continues to gain confidence in themselves and each other with every game we play," Barron noted.

Seney paced the offensive attack with 14 kills and two assists. She battled at the net with three blocks, and was impressive with 14 digs.

Defensive work was credited to Houchin with 16 digs, and freshman Makenna Barron, with 15 digs. Houchin and Barron also contributed six and four kills, respectively.

Larsen counted four ace serves, 15 assists, five digs and a kill.