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NEWPORT — Despite winning one of three games, the Newport High School volleyball team was eliminated from the District 6 2B Tournament after a three-set loss to Davenport, just one game away from advancing to state.
Entering the district tournament, the Grizzlies (8-4, 12-7) had finished their season third in the Northeast 2B North league behind Davenport (10-2, 13-6) and Northwest Christian (13-0, 19-2). That was one place higher than last year, when the Grizzlies finished with six wins and losses.
“This team worked so hard this season,” Newport coach Kathy Eggleston says.
Newport went Tuesday, Nov. 4 to Northwest Christian for their opening round game against Lind-Ritzville/ Sprague.
The Grizzlies came out slow, Eggleston says, taking a 25-11 loss in the first set. They played really well in the second set, digging, blocking and hitting their way to a 25-21 win, but struggled to catch momentum again in the third and fourth sets, losing both 25-8.
Always-strong Kaylia Earl had 11 digs, eight kills, one ace and one block, Eggleston says. Kenna Arthur, with four blocks besides her 11 digs and 10 assists, played a great blocking game, while Lindsay- Rose Collison proved tough to get around with seven digs, six blocks and three kills. Grace Parry added eight kills and four blocks.
Newport then played St. George’s in a loser-out game.
In the first set, Eggleston says Collison had the “hot hand.” With a great serve run, four of her six kills and one of her two blocks, Collison led the Grizzlies to a 25-16 win.
“Second set, the team worked well together and supported each other to win,” Eggleston says.
The Grizzlies won their second and third sets against St. George’s 25-16 and 25-11, eliminating the Dragons from the tournament.
With three digs, Abby Martin played a great serve receive game and stayed consistent through all three sets, Eggleston says. In the third set, Bella Boyd went on a 15-point serve run. She had two aces besides her four kills and two digs.
Earl added nine kills, one block, one dig and an ace, Parry nine kills and one block, Arthur 20 assists and three kills, Samantha Tellessen five assists, one ace, one kill and one block and Lily Jenkins two kills and two assists.
They went Thursday, Nov. 6 to Cheney for their third and final game of the tournament, another loser- out game against Davenport. Newport lost 25-15, 25-13 and 25-13.
“Team played hard but didn’t come away with the win,” Eggleston says.
The Grizzlies struggled with serves, Eggleston says, but still did a good job working together.
Eggleston says Earl did a great job defending the hits of Naomi Rainwater, a league MVP, with eight digs, one ace and one kill. Collison had four blocks, four kills and three digs.
Tellessen added eight digs and six assists, Grace Keck 12 digs and Arthur four digs, three assists, two kills and two blocks.
“The teamwork they showed preparing for this game and encouraging each other was amazing,” Eggleston says.
Overall, Eggleston says the season went really well. The Grizzlies improved a lot, learning to work together as a team by the end of the season after playing more like individuals toward the start.
“It was really nice to see,” Eggleston says.
Earl, Collison and Arthur were all important to the team and some of the most impactful players, Eggleston says. Earl selected for the all-league team.
As the team’s three senior players, Collison, Tellessen and Genica Kreider will be missed after they graduate in the spring, Eggleston says.
“I’m looking forward to next year,” Eggleston says. “This is a fun team to watch and I’m honored to work with them.”
