Nannies District run stopped just short of state berth

EASTMONT – The Wilson Creek Devils snatched two match wins from Pateros in District 6 competition last Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 1-2 to qualify for one of 16 spots in the 2017 WIAA 1B State Volleyball Championships starting Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Yakima SunDome.
Following a four-set win over Riverside Christian, 25-22, 15-25, 25-17, and 25-16, the Nannies were one victory away from a state appearance, but only if they could defeat the Devils, who had stopped Pateros a day earlier in what the WC coaches said was “their best match of the season.”
In the loser-out battle for the state berth, Wilson Creek handed the Nannies their second District 6 loss, 25-21, 28-30, 25-18, and 25-9, on Thursday, Nov. 2.
“If you’re not a clear favorite, the opening round is the most important match of the tournament,” said coach Gene Dowers, “because it sets up whether you get a two-hour break between matches on day two or play back-to-back into the match for the second allocation to State.”
After the RC win the Nannies “grabbed some food and a lot of water and reset the game plan for Wilson Creek in twenty minutes,” Dowers said.
While Pateros started well, the physical demands of the tight schedule gave the Devils a clear advantage.
“We started getting a little ragged in the third set, but hung tough.” Dowers said.
However, the toll of stacking seven sets of full-blast rallying, virtually on top of one another, finally had to be paid and the Nannies faded in the stretch.
“Wilson Creek still had some offense left from their second and third hitters and we didn’t have enough legs left to counter them,” said Dowers. “The girls emptied the tank.”
“I’m so proud of them for their courage and all-out effort,” said Dowers. “This really young group grew so much this season and is set to come back even stronger next year.”
Pateros will lose senior outside hitter Poole and senior middle hitter Jissele Ornelas to graduation next June. That leaves a veteran group of four juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen with post-season experience to lead the team next season.
The Nannies ended their season with an 8-4 league record, 10-7 overall, third in the CW1B and third in District.
Tournament Stats:
Sarah Poole: 16 kills, 41/49 serves w/4 aces, 33 passes, 64 digs.
Jissele Ornelas: 6 kills, 10 passes, 5 digs.
Samantha White: 10 kills, 41/44 serves w/7 aces, 38 passes, 64 digs.
Andrea Baird: 1 kill, 19/25 serves w/5 aces, 29 assists, 20 digs.
\Ashlyn Gonzalez: 1 kill, 40/41 serves w/4 aces, 74 passes, 48 digs.
Jahaira Hernandez: 3/4 serves, 2 digs.
Taylor Harrild: 18 kills, 13/19 serves w/5 aces, 3 passes, 8 digs, 4 blocks (2 solo).
 Jessi Hixon: 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 dig, 1 block.
Anna Williams: 13 kills, 14/24 serves w/2 aces, 20 assists, 3 passes, 30 digs, 1 block
Jillian Piechalski: 2/2 serves.
Aleeka Smith: 3/3 serves w/1 ace.