ONALASKA — When Onalaska volleyball coach Susan Gordon talks about her team, one word always comes to the forefront.
Consistency.
“We have to come out consistent, focused, and we have to do our stuff,” Gordon said.
The Loggers did just that on Thursday night against Napavine, scoring the first seven points of the match to set the tone in a 25-16, 26-16, 25-12 sweep.
“They have to learn to start doing that,” Gordon said. “It doesn’t matter what the other team does. Tonight was a true test to that, and they were able to be focused and consistent. That was great to see.”
Capri McGraw began the game at the service line for the Loggers during their 7-0 run to open the game, a streak that was capped by a block from Karsyn Koenig and back-to-back blocks from Emalie Jacoby.
That dominance at the net continued throughout the rest of the game, as the Loggers continuously pelted the Napavine defense with hard-hit balls, especially during a similar 17-2 run in the middle of the second set that put them up 18-6.
Napavine responded by scoring seven of the next eight points, but Onalaska was able to right the ship before the Tigers got any closer than seven.
“We were very consistent, very focused, and then we had a little blip,” Gordon said. “And now it’s back there … It was much better.”
In the third set, Gordon went into her bench, and on the final point of the game, freshman Lainey Marko got her first varsity kill, igniting a celebration in front of the Onalaska bench.
“Everybody was super excited for her,” Gordon said, noting that several players said after the game that Marko’s kill was the best point of the game. “We just played well, so we were capable of getting everyone in.”
Jacoby finished with 14 kills, 10 digs, and seven assists, while Faith Hammer added eight kills and four blocks. Sommer Hammer ended the night with seven kills, Braelyn Babb dished out 13 assists and delivered four aces, and Ellie Jacoby logged 13 digs defensively.
On the other side of the net, Napavine coach Monica Dailey was pleased despite the final scoreline. The Tigers didn’t go quietly in either of the first two sets despite the long Onalaska runs, and they continued to generate rallies until the final points of the game.
“We knew that (the Loggers) were going to be tough,” Dailey said. “Our goal was to come in with a great attitude, work hard, and be smart. We gave up some points in a row, but I feel like we made them earn their points today.
“They did well, and they have a lot of fight,” Dailey continued. “I’m proud of my girls tonight. They worked hard, and they did a lot of good things. I think we moved in a positive direction tonight.”
Dailey added that she was especially proud of her hitters for making an adjustment early, as they began to mix up their approach at the net and get some “really nice swings” on the ball.
After having a bye during the first day of C2BL league play, the Tigers are now 0-1 and in sixth-place in the seven-team league standings.
Napavine (3-8) will look to get its first league win on Tuesday at home against Rainier.
"We have nowhere to go but up,” Dailey said. “They know that, and they’re fighting tooth and nail. Anybody is beatable on any given night. We just know that we have to bring our passion and our mental toughness every single night.”
Onalaska (9-1,) is the only 2-0 team in league play in the C2BL as of the end of play on Thursday night, and the Loggers will look to stay unbeaten in league play on Tuesday in Adna.
In that game, and each of the following three to end their regular season, Gordon and the Loggers will have their eyes set on consistency.
“We’ll focus on us and on our goals,” Gordon said.
