YAKIMA — Wendie Dotson had been patiently waiting for a moment like she witnessed on Wednesday night. Thirteen years to be exact.

So what harm does 80 minutes past the expected start of the Adna High School volleyball team’s quarterfinal match plus 120 more minutes to decide a winner do?

Turns out, not much harm.

“It was well worth the wait,” Dotson stated.

You can say that again.

The top-seeded Pirates survived a feisty Liberty (Spangle) squad in four sets 25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14 to become the first team since the 2011 unit to secure a spot in the Class 2B state semifinals inside the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Back-to-back years of quarterfinal heartbreak turned the trip eastbound into a sour note. Now, Adna (20-0) takes its perfect mark into Thursday’s 10 a.m. contest against the only other unbeaten in the tournament, fifth-seeded Coupeville.

“We told each other we just have to go,” senior outside hitter Karsyn Freeman said. “We couldn’t just stop right there. We know what we have to do.”

From the moment the 2024 version of Adna waltzed into the gym for its first practice, there was a certain vibe. Discussions about last year – being the No. 1 seed as an unbeaten and losing in the quarterfinals – were not a focal point.

Inside the locker room, confidence was emerging. From the first win back in September to two wins away from the Pirates’ first state title in school history, they felt this was the team to get them over the quarterfinal hump.

“We definitely (knew) that last year wasn’t the end,” Freeman said.

Liberty gave Adna a run for its money in the third set, never letting the Pirates pull away. The Lancers grabbed the lead late and held on for the victory to delay the celebration.

Dotson kept things very simple in the huddle.

“Stop tipping,” she stated. “Go after them. Play our game.”

Freeman, Danika Hallom and Kendall Humphrey happily obliged. The attacking trio combined for 50 kills in the victory while Gaby Guard dished out 48 assists. Those four plus McKenna Torrey racked up double digit dig totals.

There was a stretch where Freeman was the go-to option on the front row. Even as the likely No. 1 player on an opposition’s scouting report, the multi-sport star finds a way to rack up 20-plus kills.

“They bring me the energy every time,” Freeman said.

“She’s super athletic,” Dotson added. “No matter where the set is, she’s gonna make a good play on it.”

Adna had to overcome a sluggish start in the opening round versus No. 16 La Conner, but prevailed in a 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 sweep. The Braves went point-for-point for stretches in the first set to make it competitive.

Once the jitters were shaken, the Pirates rolled. They jumped out to comfortable margins in the final two sets to stop any chance at an upset.

“Now we could focus on what we’re capable of doing,” Dotson said. “You’ve got a target on your back and sometimes, you play a little tight.”

Guard distributed 38 dimes and had a team-best 14 digs. Freeman had 15 kills while Hallom added 11 and Humphrey chipped in 10. Bailey Chapman was stout in the middle with four solo blocks versus La Conner.

Coupeville upended fellow C2BL foe Mossyrock in the quarters and Adna is well aware of what the Wolves have at their disposal.

Unbeaten versus unbeaten matchups rarely disappoint.

“We’re ready,” Freeman said.