After some close calls, the Centralia volleyball team finally got in the win column in league play with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 win over Shelton on Tuesday.
“It’s real huge,” Centralia coach Marti Smith said. “We’ve been just fighting and grinding for so long it feels like. And to finally pick up a win in league is just a really good feeling. Hopefully it’s that turning point we need to start heading in the right direction.”
The Tigers took control early, winning the first two sets, but they fell behind 15-10 in Set 3. They went on a 7-1 run to take the lead, and then Payton Baumel went on a serving run to put the Tigers up 23-17.
Smith was proud of the way that Centralia limited errors on their side of the court, and she was also happy to see the Tigers prevent their opponent from long scoring runs, which has been an issue in previous losses.
“Overall, it was a really fun match to watch them play,” Smith said.
McKenna Smith, Makenzie Erickson, and Mikaela Marazita combined for nine aces and went a perfect 28 for 28 from the service line, while Baumel went 12 for 14 with two aces and two kills.
Baumel was moved from her usual spot in the middle due to some rotation adjustments, and Smith was happy to see her have success in the back line.
“She did such a great job back there,” Marti Smith said. “I’m just proud of the overall energy she brought to the court.”
McKenna Smith added 11 assists, 11 digs, and three kills, and Marazita had seven kills and five aces. Marti Smith said that Erickson played her best game of the year as the libero, as she tallied 23 digs.
Brooklyn Sprague finished with six kills, while Logan Baker stepped in from the JV team to block three balls at the net.
Up next for the Tigers (3-8, 1-5 2A EvCo) is a trip to Aberdeen on Thursday.
