After the Centralia volleyball team opened its season with an up-and-down serving game Wednesday, the Tigers put their best foot forward at the line, serving Olympic into disarray in a 25-9, 25-14, 25-22 sweep.
Centralia finished with 23 aces as a team, led by eight from Makayla Chavez, five from Gracie Schofield, and four from Mckenna Smith.
“The first set we just came out the gate hard and fast,” Centralia coach Marti Smith said. “We talk about our serving being part of our offense, and in that first set alone we had 10 aces.”
That hot start led to a comfortable first set, and more of the same in the second, sparked by big serving runs from Mckenna Smith and Heaven Jacobson.
The third began the same way, with Centralia racing out to a 23-11 lead, before the Trojans went on a late run to make things a bit interesting down the stretch.
“I was happy to have a set like that this early in the season, because it prepares us for if we get caught in a similar set in league,” Marti Smith said. “To know how to fix it quickly, and also to know that we can still put it out.”
Chavez also led the Tigers at the net with eight kills, while not committing a single hitting error. Lauren Wasson came in next on the stat sheet with four kills.
On the back row, Schofield turned in 10 digs.
Centralia will stay home over the weekend to host the annual Centerville Classic, with Rochester, Shelton, Forks, Lakes, Raymond, and Willapa Valley all bound for the Hub City. After that, the Tigers will launch into 2A EvCo play, facing Tumwater next Tuesday.
