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FOCUSED ON THE POST-SEASON - La Conner High's Aaliyah Gonzalez keeps her eye on the ball during recent net action at Landy James Gym. Gonzalez and her teammates have earned a state tournament berth, paired against top-seeded Adna today (Wednesday) in Yakima.
They're back.
The young and resilient La Conner High School volleyball team, twice on the brink of post-season elimination, swept Auburn Adventist and Orcas Island on Nov. 9 to preserve the program's long streak of state tournament appearances.
La Conner (15-11) faces top-seeded and undefeated Adna in first-round state 2B action at 11:45 a.m. today (Wednesday) in the Yakima SunDome.
La Conner has captured multiple state net crowns, its last in 2022. The Braves are seeded 16th in the 16-team field after placing second in the Northwest Bi-District Tournament with successive loser-out victories over Auburn and Orcas at Landy James Gym.
The Braves, with just one senior on the roster – defensive specialist Addison Wigal – had defeated Forest Ridge before losing on the road to unbeaten Coupeville (18-0) in opening round bi-district play Nov. 7.
Coupeville arrives in Yakima seeded fifth, including three consecutive triumphs over La Conner. Coupeville faces No. 12 seed Tonasket at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.
In Adna, La Conner meets another foe with an unblemished record. The Pirates have dropped just seven sets the entire regular season, two of those coming in a 3-2 thriller with No. 2 seed Manson two months ago.
Adna's only setbacks in 2024 have been two non-counting invitational tournament decisions in September to Idaho 5A programs Lewiston and Lakeland.
The winner of the La Conner-Adna match advances to face Tri-Cities Prep or Liberty Spangle. The losers of these two pairings meet in an elimination match at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.
To reach Yakima again, head coach Pam Keller's charges defeated Auburn in straight sets, then secured a 3-1 verdict against Orcas in the Nov. 9 elimination home doubleheader.
La Conner freshman Abi Poulton filled the stat sheet against Orcas with 13 kills, 13 digs, 10 assists, three aces and a block.
Maeve McCormick recorded 18 digs, 12 kills, two aces and an assist. Nora McCormick contributed nine digs and seven kills. Mia Delage chipped in three kills and two digs.
Reese Bird fueled the home team attack with 21 assists, seven digs, four aces and two kills.
Libero Addison Keller finished with 12 digs, three aces and an assist. Aaliyah Gonzalez had a dozen digs and an ace.
Wigal likewise extended rallies with 11 digs. Additionally, she notched three kills and an ace.
Adna boasts five seniors and 6-foot junior middle blocker Bailey Chapman. Adna beat Mossyrock 3-1 in the playoffs.
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