1B State Preview!

Twenty teams will attempt to take home a 1B State Championship this week in the Yakima Sundome. Oakesdale is back in the top spot, seeded #1, and trying to win a fourth straight title and their eighth in nine years. The Nighthawks are incredibly young, with zero seniors, five freshmen, and one eighth-grader on the team, but the squad still posted a 21-0 record on the season. The most likely teams to stand in the way of Oakesdale are all seeded in the top five. Wilbur-Kreston-Keller has won a set twice this season in matches against the Nighthawks and Fellowship Christian; Walla Walla Valley Academy and Darrington have solid resumes stacked with quality wins.     District 1- Northwest Interscholastic Activities Association   District 2- Sea-King District Two   District 3-West Central District Three   State Berths Allocated- Six, combined between Districts 1, 2 & 3.   <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"> <li>TOP SEED: Fellowship Christian Eagles: 21-2, 3rd Seed.</li>   <li>Darrington Loggers: 18-5, 5th Seed.</li>   <li>Northwest Christian (Lacey) Wolverines: 16-5, 8th Seed.</li>   <li>Neah Bay Red Devils: 11-6, 11th Seed.</li>   <li>Grace Academy Eagles: 13-5, 17th Seed.</li>   <li>Providence Classical Christian: 17-8, 19th Seed.</li> </ol>   Prediction: Fellowship Christian has a terrific setter in Haley Grigoryev. She can get her feet to the ball and find her athletic attackers on the pin. If the seeds hold, the Eagles will face Wilbur-Creston-Keller in the semi-final. Darrington seniors [player_tooltip player_id='734251' first='Claire' last='Wright'] and Gracie Ross are a dynamic duo on the pins, and the Loggers played a demanding schedule to prepare themselves for the post-season. A second-round matchup against Walla Walla Valley Academy would be a fun match to watch. Northwest Christian will need a win against one or two teams from Eastern Washinton to power into the semi-finals. MB Sophia Donaldson is one of the top attackers for the Wolverines, and freshman Keirsten Hilberg has been excellent wearing the libero jersey. Neah Bay made a run to the State Championship game last season, falling to Oakesdale. The Red Devils lost three all-state performers but could pose a problem as an 11-seed with their experience in the tournament. Both Grace Academy and Providence Classical Christian will need to win a play-in game to advance, and they will face off against well-organized teams from District 6.     District 4-Southwest Washington District Four   State Berths Allocated- Four.   TOP SEED: Taholah Lady Chitwhins: 16-3, 6th Seed.   2. Willapa Valley: 13-6, 12th Seed.   3. Naselle Comets: 12-7, 15th Seed.   4. Pe Ell Trojans: 13-9, 20th Seed.     Prediction: ShirleyMae Stafford is just one of the impressive multi-sport athletes Taholah has on its roster. The MB has a live arm, and Taholah finds her on "2" balls where she can see and work around or through the block. Her team will have an exciting opening match-up against Neah Bay. Willapa Valley dropped three hard-fought matches to Taholah during the year; they are led defensively by senior Alana Neva and will be a tough out as a 12 seed. Senior captain and setter Mylinh Schell is one of the leaders for Naselle; the Comets are on a three-match win streak and headed into a play-in match with Garfield Palouse. Pe Ell will be in the state tournament for the first time since 2012; Brookelynn King and Madi Engel are significant contributors to the Trojans. As the 20th seed, they face a play-in match against Soap Lake.   District 5- Central Washington Interscholastic Activities Association   State Berths Allocated- Two.   TOP SEED: Waterville-Mansfield Shockers: 15-4, 7th Seed.   2. Soap Lake Eagles: 15-3, 13th Seed.   Prediction: Waterville-Mansfield is led by OH Hanna Nelson, winner of league MVP and 1st Team All-League MB Ava Cummings. The Shockers have a problematic seven vs. ten matchup in the first round against Mary Walker from Springdale. The Chargers have one of the top players in the tournament in Kaylin Gines, and it will take a team effort to secure the victory for W-M. With a win, the Shockers would likely face Wilbur-Creston-Keller, the 2nd overall seed. The Eagles from Soap Lake had the experience of playing in the state tournament last season and should be ready for their play in a game with Pe Ell. Returning juniors Mylee Dana, Liana Sushik, Brooke Dana, and Sage Hart help power the team. A win would move the Eagles into an exciting match against Walla Walla Valley Academy.   District 6-Eastern Washington Interscholastic Activities Association   State Berths Allocated- Seven.   TOP SEED: Oakesdale Nighthawks: 21-0, 1st Seed.   2. Wilbur-Creston-Keller Wildcats: 18-2, 2nd Seed.   3. Walla Walla Valley Academy Knights: 14-3, 4th Seed.   4. Valley Christian Panthers: 13-7, 9th Seed.   5. Mary Walker Chargers: 14-5, 10th Seed.   6. Inchelium Hornets: 14-6, 14th Seed.   7. Liberty Christian (Richland) Patriots: 14-9, 16th Seed.   8. Garfield Palouse Vikings: 15-5, 18th Seed. Prediction: Oakesdale will be a handful for teams facing the disciplined and organized Nighthawks for the first time. The team's system and winning tradition can overpower squads that cannot handle the defending state champions' constant service pressure and overall skill. W-C-K has won a set against the Nighthawks twice this season before dropping both matches. The Wildcats will look to make their way through the other side of the bracket to get one more shot at their league rivals. District 6 had a tough tournament before the district's state qualifying tournament, so all seven teams are battle-tested headed into the Sundome. Walla Walla Valley Academy relies on MB Kienna Stepper to deliver kills and blocks; the Knights will be hard to beat before the semi-finals. Mary Walker has two tall, skilled players at the net; the Chargers can upset a higher-seeded opponent if they get on a roll. Inchelium, Liberty Christian, and Gar-Pal will all try to battle through a play-in match for a shot at a high-seeded opponent.   MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH!   Oakesdale: MB [player_tooltip player_id='711006' first='Bradyn' last='Henley']-JR. OH Lyla Kjak-FR. S/OPP [player_tooltip player_id='740587' first='Megan' last='Crider']-FR. OH/S [player_tooltip player_id='593886' first='Parker' last='Davis']-*8th   Wilbur-Creston-Keller: OH/MB Kaidyn Maiho- SR. MB Brystal Neilsen- SO. S Callie Cousins- JR.   Walla Walla Valley Academy: OH Addy Stepper- SO. S Ella Luthi- SR. L Jasmyn Heredia- SR.   Valley Christian: OH Brianna Alexyenko- SO. S Autumn Keyannie-SR.   Mary Walker: OH Kaylin Gines-SO. OH/MB Kazlin Rainer-SO.   Inchelium Hornets: S Kylee Andrews- SR. OH Hailey Peone- SR.   Liberty Christian: RS/S [player_tooltip player_id='750708' first='Calista' last='Davis']- SR. MB Aubrey Ott- JR.   Garfield Palouse: OH Kyra Brantner- SO. MB Elena Flansburg- JR.

Twenty teams will attempt to take home a 1B State Championship this week in the Yakima Sundome. Oakesdale is back in the top spot, seeded #1, and trying to win a fourth straight title and their eighth in nine years. The Nighthawks are incredibly young, with zero seniors, five freshmen, and one eighth-grader on the team, but the squad still posted a 21-0 record on the season. The most likely teams to stand in the way of Oakesdale are all seeded in the top five. Wilbur-Kreston-Keller has won a set twice this season in matches against the Nighthawks and Fellowship Christian; Walla Walla Valley Academy and Darrington have solid resumes stacked with quality wins.