Last season, the Black Hills and Tumwater volleyball teams met in a winner-to-state matchup at the 2A District 4 tournament.
While Tumwater took the first matchup earlier in the season, it was the Wolves who claimed the state bid, sweeping the Thunderbirds to advance to Yakima. This fall, both programs are set for another strong season, and both are eyeing state tournament bids.
In Tumwater, coach Molly Cichosz is entering her second season at the helm. Leading the team on the floor will be two seniors in their fourth season on varsity, Emily Robello and Brooklynn Hayes.
As four-year varsity players, Cichosz says that they have emerged as leaders for the younger players.
“It means everything,” Cichosz said. “They know what it’s like to be the young ones on the team and having that experience has really helped them step into those leadership roles.”
Two underclassmen that have stood out to Cichosz so far in practice are outside hitter Tove Hugus and middle hitter Paige Henderson, both sophomores. Cichosz said both have looked strong throughout practices so far and they both should see more playing time this fall.
Cichosz said that while the sophomore and freshman class have caught the short end of the stick early in middle school as it relates to COVID-19, she has been impressed by how they have seemed to make up for it over the last couple of club seasons.
“The growth that they’ve made over the club season and the offseason from high school, it’s been tremendous,” Cichosz said. “They came in and really impressed me this year and I think they’re gonna be a strong force this year.”
Across the freeway, the Wolves are led by first-year coach Karlee Sampson. Sampson has coached club and middle school volleyball in the past, and she was encouraged to apply for the Black Hills job by a parent and former coach Paige Walker.
After a state tournament berth last season, the Wolves are set up for a return, led by senior Ashley Harris, who earned first-team all-league honors last season and could be in the mix for league MVP this year.
Senior Claire Johnson earned an all-league honorable mention last fall, and Lilly Kincaid is also in line to take over as the team’s main setter, replacing all-area setter Alex Loveless. Junior Anneliese Dale will also be stepping into a bigger role.
While the Wolves are led by a solid group of seniors, Sampson is also excited to see some of her underclassmen perform at a higher level. She specifically mentioned the “little freshman” of the group, Tyler Venable, as well as sophomore Ellie Johnson, Claire’s younger sister.
Sampson is a Tumwater grad herself, and she admitted it “is a little weird” being on the other side of that rivalry. Regardless of which school she calls home now, though, she said she was glad to be back in the area she grew up in.
“I’m just excited to be in this school district and making our district better,” Sampson said.
