YAKIMA — From the first set on, there was a different energy surrounding the Pe Ell High School volleyball team. Applause after points from the bench and the six on the court were minimal.
Perhaps it was the stage, one that the Trojans haven’t been in over the last decade. Maybe the early morning pigtail game struggled to wake up the attack.
The state tournament proved to be a short-lived stay.
No. 20 Pe Ell had a plethora of errors – 19 in the first set alone – and never recovered as No. 13 Soap Lake took care of business in a 25-12, 25-19, 25-21 sweep in a Class 1B pigtail match on Wednesday inside the Yakima Valley SunDome.
“Nineteen is enough to lose a game anytime,” Trojans head coach Jill Engel said. “I don’t know if the girls were nervous with the venue and excitement of state. We had some shining moments, but those were just moments.”
It capped a memorable season for Pe Ell (13-10), a runner-up finish in the Columbia Valley and a fourth place finish in the District 4 tournament.
Still, there were some moments of head-scratching errors in the eastern half of the state.
Whether it was no second hits on serve receive or miscommunication that led to the ball just dropping on the court, the Trojans were always one step behind the eight-ball.
“The girls do not perform well in morning practices, but this is a different situation,” Engel said. “I would expect nothing but their best. I’m not gonna give them an excuse for a morning game.”
The second and third sets were glimpses of sparks for Pe Ell.
It kept the middle game within striking distance, fending off three set points, before the Eagles broke away. Even staring at a 2-0 deficit, it led for nearly half of the third behind some timely kills by Madi Engel and sloppy play from Soap Lake.
Eventually, the Eagles regrouped and finished off the sweep. Sophomore Karli Phelps paced the front row with six kills plus Madi Engel added five and Peyton Zock recorded six blocks. Sophia Milanowski registered 10 digs in the back row.
“The consideration was there,” Coach Engel said of potentially calling a timeout late in the set down 19-16. “A lot of times they can kick out of it a little bit easier if I don’t call the timeout. Hindsight 20-20, I probably should have.”
The path to get to the state tournament was, in of itself, not traditional for the Trojans.
They were getting ready to play a fifth set against Columbia Adventist in a winner to state game last week, then because of religious reasons, the Kodiaks had to forfeit the fifth set to make it home before dark.
Even though going one-and-done was far from ideal, Coach Engel still left with her head held high exiting the court.
“I’m super proud of these girls,” she said. “They have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The lone senior, albeit a significant loss, is All-CVL Co-MVP Brookelynn King, one of the Trojans’ setters and best players. Engel, in her first year at the helm, leaned on King to provide guidance and tips.
“She’s very much a go-to for not only the team, but the coaching staff,” Coach Engel said. “She’s a good, solid mind. They all know she’s the boss.”
Everyone else is expected to return for the 2025 season. Pe Ell has been through a lot of losing, this fall being the first double digit winning season in multiple years. It now has the experience of playing in state.
Now, the goal that Coach Engel wants established is not letting the foot off the gas.
“They got a taste of it,” Coach Engel said. “When we come back next year, they’ll know what to expect and how everything operates and what level of play we gotta bring to the court.”
