MORTON — It’s been a four-year build up for the Morton High School volleyball team. The same kids, under the same coaching staff, have been through thick and thin.
In the eyes of head coach Jamie Brazil and senior star Ryelin Wiedenmann, the bond has never been stronger. Happy or sad, upset or joyful, overwhelmed or content, the Huskies don’t shy away from embracing each other.
“We are like a family,” Brazil stated. “They really do have a love for each other.”
Wednesday night proved it.
Morton played with heavy hearts and buckled down when things got tough in each set to sweep Raymond/South Bend 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 in a non-league contest at home to extend its streak to six straight victories.
Ever since the Huskies (7-2) lost in five to Naselle more than two weeks ago, they have swept every team on the opposite side of the net.
“I’m proud of the way we’ve been working together; in the past, we’ve struggled with playing as a team,” Wiedenmann said. “We have a stronger mentality.”
There was more to play for than just a winning streak.
Dathan “Chuck” Dygert passed away on Wednesday. He’s the father of Crystal, Dymond, Jewel and Goldy Dygert, all players for Morton. The first three are varsity members and they all took the court.
Crystal and Dymond stood next to each other during the National Anthem; Dymond rested her head on her older sister’s shoulder.
“They are probably the best girls you’ll ever meet in your life and it is because of how they were raised,” Brazil said. “It definitely was something that touched all of us.”
“Everything I did on the court was for them,” Wiedenmann added. “They are the strongest group of girls I have ever met. I am really proud of them.”
There’s a belief in each other the Huskies never fully grasped in previous years. Perhaps the roster is older and more experienced. Perhaps it is facing Class 1B teams after being in the gauntlet of the C2BL.
Regardless of who is on Morton’s schedule, it is winning at a rate not seen in a while. The only league loss was the season opener versus Wahkiakum in four, but everything else has been a three-set win.
“Our mindset is we’re going after it, so it doesn't matter if we’re in 2B or 1B,” Wiedenmann said. “It is a whole new setting for every game.”
Having a trio of 5-foot-10 hitters at the net helps.
Wiedenmann, Brooklyn Montoure and Chevy Fuller all had their moments. It was Fuller’s kill that clinched the first set, then in the second featured a couple kills from Wiedenmann that held off a late RSB rally. Fuller registered a pair of blocks, so too did 5-8 middle Layna Sams.
Crystal Dygert posted double digit assists while being one of three players that served 100 percent. Wiedenmann led the attack with 13 kills while Sams had seven and Fuller recorded three.
“It’s (allowed) us to get a little more creative and have more fun,” Brazil said. “They’re dialed in to each other. It is nice to share the love and we can go up and swing.”
The moments of caution were in serve receive. RSB cut the margin to five in set one, dwindled a six-point deficit down to one in the second set and scored the opening four points in set number three.
Morton never wavered.
“The reset is there, the mental toughness is there,” Brazil said. “It is you against you for three sets. We’re working on that.”
Up next for the Huskies is a Thursday road date with Winlock, their final non-league tilt, before diving right back into Columbia Valley league play against Three Rivers Christian on Tuesday. Their primary goal is to reach the state tournament in Yakima next month, but they understand it will be far from easy.
Brazil mentioned the girls' journal for 15 minutes every day writing down their goals. The one constant is being in the SunDome in November.
“We have a really good shot,” Wiedenmann said. “We’re all there for each other.”
