1A state volleyball: Cascade rebounds, takes 3rd

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1A state volleyball: Cascade rebounds, takes 3rd

By World sports staff

Saturday, November 10, 2012

YAKIMA — After losing to Castle Rock Saturday for a shot at the state championship, the Cascade volleyball team faced King’s Way Christian knowing that fourth place wasn’t an option.

Cascade swept King’s Way Christian to finish the season 17-3 and in third place at the 1A state volleyball tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

“We were in the locker room and I told them, ‘Forget about the Castle Rock match. It’s all King’s Way from here on. Focus on the third place trophy.’ And we came out with our heads held high and ready for the next match,” McMahon said.

Sydney Coffin went 11-for-11 serving in the final match, a 25-15, 25-16, 25-21 victory. Setters Johnna Rieke and Sierra Guthrie combined for 25 assists. Eliana Ala’ilima-Daley made 15 kills and Arielle Turner made 13 kills.

The Kodiaks went into the match with top-ranked Castle Rock knowing they needed to play their ‘A’ game. Despite an excellent effort by libero Kaycee O’Brien, who had 28 digs, the team made defensive errors after its first set win and lost 16-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16. Cascade watched film and knew its “Cascade volleyball” style would prevail against King’s Way.

“Yeah, we wanted that championship match,” McMahon said. “We’re happy with the third place trophy and the whole team, all of them, can stamp their name on it.”

1B volleyball

In Yakima, Pateros took seventh place, finishing the 1B tournament with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 win over Sunnyside Christian on Saturday.

The Nannies beat Mt. Vernon Christian 25-15, 25-22, 25-22 earlier in the day to advance.

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ebar6 6 months, 1 week ago

A big Congrats to Cascade girls and their coaching staff on a great year and one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

That Congrats is a hard thing to say coming from a Chelan girl and ex-volleyball player. I have great memories of Chelan VB competing against Cascade and the better the Kodiaks were, the better we tried to be.....

What I am going to say needs to be said. Chelan had a lot better team than the final results showed. I watched two matches this year and part of one at the regional tournament. In my opinion, the coaches at Chelan need to refocus and put team performance as the #1 goal. If they do so, they are going to need to change the way they have been doing business for 12 years. Every girl who has played varsity for Chelan knows that player favorites of the coach exist to one degree or another every year. I know, because I was one! I got a little more playing time than some others based on my or my families relationship with the coach. I know this practice of playing favorites is part of the program. Sometimes it is the only explanation for playing time or position selection. It serves as a cancer on the team. The girls, in almost all situations know who deserves to play here or there. Coaches don't get away with no one knowing what is going on. The politics of Chelan VB have cost the program higher finishes at state and sometimes prevented State appearences. It is too bad, but true. I watched a demostration of team volleyball with mighty struggles at the setting position this year. In the late 90's there is no way that Chelan's coaches wouldn't have made a change. In fact, they would never have started the season with the current rotation. They used something other than on-court performance to place players and I know that the entire team knows that I am correct. Hopefully, coach, you will swallow your pride and allow on court personal performance to over-rule personal politics and pride. The Chelan team was certainly good enough to compete for the State Championship this year and the only thing that stood between them and that accomplishment is coaching pride. BTW, as we girls go on in life, we will not forgot the great experiences of high school sports nor will we ever be at home with the thought that we were given playing time because of who we were or the social circles we ran in. It always sticks with us. Coach, turn a page and do what is right next year for the sake of the girls! The players deserve to win or lose based on their performances, not on coaching decisions that are based on politics! The coaches from Spokane were in shock as to the decision making that allowed Chelan to come into the regional tournament with one hand tied behind their back because of positional players who were simply "picked" by the coach to play and not tested by performance over time.

Make the change and gain more respect from your players and see yourselves finishing higher as a team.

coolkat 6 months ago

First of all, you look like a man so I don't even know how you made the volleyball team in the first place. Two, it's a little rediculous you are still stuck in the high school era yourself and you haven't quite moved on from the drama. Frankly, it is none of your concern what the coach chooses to do with her team. Maybe you are just upset because your team couldn't be as successful and you haven't learned to take fault in yourself and you blame others for your problems. Your opinion is incredibly stupid and I think you need to focus on yourself and not where you used to be years ago.

nohands76 6 months, 1 week ago

I feel 100% certain this 'political' situation has only happened with Chelan Volleyball and has never been an issue with any other school. Get over yourself and move on with your life.

digger10 6 months, 1 week ago

Absolutely can identify with ebar. Varsity member at Chelan for my last two years. Experienced the same situation and thought it was just our class. Talked with other teammates and they looked this up and are of the same opinion. It is kinda a relieve in that you just think it is you. I wasn't a favorite but did get playing time and was put in a very hard position when it came to playoffs. All of a sudden the rotation was changed right before the first playoff game and I was expected to play more. If I had even 25% of the playing time of the girl who shared my position I could have done better at State. But, coach always kept my playing at a min until I think she saw that we would get beat with her favorite on the floor a lot. It has always bugged me that coach made big changes to the Chelan line ups right before State or big playoffs. I mean literally, the new player sometime plays varsity for the first time at state. It never made sense to us and I think it really hurts the team when she won't admit a mistake (or someone just doesn't get the job done) halfway through the year and the changes are made much earlier than right before post season or right after a huge loss.

We had really good coaches at Chelan as far as teaching us the game. That coaching was a good part of my experience there. If the coaches ever get to a point where the personal likes or dislikes of certain players on a team become a non factor they would really have a top program that could be a regular at State. I didn't see this years team play, but it is sad for the girls if favoritism is the reason they were not able to get to state. I would like to make a final comment. As a player if you go and talk to coach about your concerns you better be able to handle it when the answer is "no" or "you just aren't as good as so and so." This is what happened to one of my friends on the team. Her playing time actually went down from that point on. Fortunately, coach had to play her more at post-season to try to help us win.

kknights 6 months ago

Well the reasons that many complain about Chelan vb coach decisions impacting the success of the team are starting to come to the surface. Should have won a State championship in 2009. Players who can't serve shouldn't be allowed to. Great championship team in 2010. Maybe the best player in 1A history leaves to PAC 12. Chelan athletes exactly equal to Kings the next year. Coaching decisions rule the day and Chelan puts brand new line up on State floor for first time all year. 3 - 0 Kings sweep. Chelan loses all of their team to graduation except two very good players. Kings loses all starters. Kings comes back this year to place again and Chelan can't make it to state for one reason. Putting a RS hitter/front row player at setter. No experience, no excuse and no coaching. Was Chelan good enough to place at state? Absolutely yes. Was coach good enough to put them in position to do it. Look at the results ..... over and out forever!!