La Conner volleyball team falls short defending state title

All good things must come to an end.

Such was the case last week for a youthful and overachieving La Conner High School volleyball team that scored late season wins over two 3A schools and stormed back from a two-set deficit to league rival Coupeville at bi-district trials to secure a spot in the state 2B net tourney.

This season’s stay in Yakima, however, was short-lived for the Lady Braves who, with just two seniors, were eliminated the first day and unable to defend the state crown La Conner had worn since 2018.

La Conner fell in four sets to sixth-ranked Toutle Lake in opening round action and was swept by Walla Walla Academy in the consolation bracket, ending the season 13-9.

First-year head coach Pam Keller’s charges started fast against Toutle Lake, winning set one 25-21 before the Fightin’ Ducks took the next three frames 25-23, 25-21 and 25-18.

La Conner held leads in all four sets, making the loss even more disheartening.

Toutle Lake’s Grace Hadaller paced the victors with 27 kills, 14 digs and five service aces. Teammate Layni Brandhorst contributed eight kills and five aces.

The Toutle Lake duo neutralized a monster match from La Conner senior Morgan Huizenga, who filled the stat sheet with 10 kills, 34 digs, two service aces and a pair of blocks.

Fellow senior Abigail Udlock ignited the La Conner attack with 25 assists along with 28 digs, five kills, two blocks and two aces.

Eighth grader Reese Bird contributed 14 kills, 15 digs and an ace to the La Conner cause. Nora McCormick, also an eighth grader, finished with three kills, nine digs and an ace.

Sophomore Maeve McCormick and eighth grader Abigail Poulton each notched a kill. McCormick also produced 22 digs.

Addison Keller, a sophomore libero, delivered 32 digs and three assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Addie Wigal provided a dig for La Conner.

In Walla Walla Academy, La Conner was paired against a team that arrived in Yakima after also having prevailed in a wild five-set come from behind district clash.

The Lady Knights, downed in first round state play by Colfax, escaped elimination by topping La Conner 25-14, 25-21, 25-22.

Huizenga capped her La Conner career with a solid 25-dig, 20-kill effort against Walla Walla.

Bird added six kills, 22 digs and an ace while Keller and Maeve McCormick posted 28 and 25 digs, respectively.

Udlock registered 28 assists and two kills and Poulton rang up three kills.

Coupeville fared no better than La Conner at Yakima, bowing out in two matches. The Lady Wolves had the misfortune of drawing Lind-Ritzville-Sprague and Goldendale, two of the top five seeded teams in the tourney.

Lind-Ritzville-Sprague ended up placing second to 2023 state champion Manson, which had defeated La Conner 3-0 in an Oct. 7 non-league match at Landy James Gym.