Similar to W.F. West’s 3-1 loss to Centralia last week, errors were the deciding factor in the Bearcats’ season-ending, 3-1 loss (25-8, 16-25, 25-11, 25-15) to Woodland in a 2A District 4 pigtail match Tuesday.
The Bearcats made the long drive to Woodland to face the Beavers in a winner-to-districts, loser-out contest after falling to Centralia in their regular-season finale last Thursday.
On Tuesday, it was another night of untimely errors that brought their season to a halt.
After coming out flat in a 25-8 defeat in the first set, the Bearcats came alive in the second set and cruised to a 25-16 victory.
“Our serving wasn’t bad, our passing wasn’t as good as it has been and we settled down in the second set,” W.F. West coach Robert Lucas said. “But we couldn’t get our defense to click when we needed to. And while, yes, we beat ourselves, our errors just came at the wrong time and they compiled.”
The Bearcats actually had a commendable night hitting, with senior Ava Olsen and junior Morgan Rogerson leading the way with a team-high seven kills each. Senior Amelia Etue added five kills, while seniors Maggie Busse and Anna White each tallied three.
At the service line, senior Kambriah Simper was 9 for 10 and junior Saige Brindle was 10 for 11.
“Our serving wasn’t too bad,” Lucas said.
W.F. West ended its season with an 8-8 overall record and was 6-6 in league play. Six seniors suited up for their final time: Olsen, White, Etue, Simper, Busse and Norah Lanej.
What Lucas will remember most about this group of seniors is their dedication to not only the game, but to the program as a whole.
“The bulk of them started their legacy four years ago and didn’t know it,” Lucas said. “It was to make sure everyone at W.F. West was welcomed. That came into play three years ago when (Olsen) moved here, and the same with (Busse) last year. This group said, ‘Well, you’re one of us now.’ In their last huddle, they said this applies to everyone, whether they’re a freshman or a senior. They’re family.”
