TENINO — In multiple games last year, the Tenino volleyball would win the first set before faltering shortly after.
“In the past, we’ve tended to go way down with the wave in the second set,” Tenino coach Shauna Carpenter said. “We have worked really hard to stay high and roll from the first set into the second.”
The Beavers did just that after winning the first set of their matchup against Napavine on Tuesday, scoring the first 12 points of the second set to take control of the match, one they eventually won 25-14, 25-11, 25-20.
Sequoia Zimmer was the server for Tenino during that 12-0 run, and she also was the server during a 6-0 run that put Tenino up 6-2 to open the game.
“Sequoia herself has come so far on that mentality side of the game, and she’s really worked hard to make sure that she’s consistent with those,” Carpenter said. “She’s really a leader while she’s out on the court.”
After Tenino (1-2) controlled a majority of the first two sets, the Tigers (2-3) attempted to rally in the third to extend the game.
They scored eight of the first 12 points of the game, and there was a concerted effort by some of the players to raise the energy and intensity levels both on the court and on the bench.
“People started stepping up and trying to lead,” Napavine coach Monica Dailey said. “But nobody was responding to anything tonight … It was all individual play. There was not a team unit playing out there tonight.”
Tenino eventually battled back to tie the set at 13, and the Beavers outscored the Tigers 12-7 the rest of the way to complete the sweep.
“We talked before the game about keeping our foot on the gas,” Carpenter said. “I’d rather see them play it full speed and (potentially) lose than play it safe and lose anyway.”
Kate Burkhardt led the way, as the senior posted 10 kills, nine digs, seven blocks, and six aces while going 13 for 15 from the service line.
Zimmer added 12 assists, seven digs, and four aces while serving 25 for 27, and Violet Zimmer added five digs, four kills, and two aces while missing just one of nine attempts from the service line.
Kaitlyn Holmes-Pickernell missed just one of her 10 service attempts while tallying three digs and a pair of aces, Peyton Songer added nine digs, Kendall Bowe collected five kills and three digs, and Abby Smith dished out four assists.
The Beavers celebrated after the final point, but it was far from their loudest throughout the night.
“The celebration of each other is the biggest part,” Carpenter said. “Volleyball is that game of energy, and them celebrating each other will really carry them through … They really, truly care about each other. That shows, and it showed there tonight.”
Brynley Edson, Maleah Ward, Lilly Grabianowski, and Emily Thuston all finished without a service error for Napavine, and the Tigers serve receive “kept (the Tigers) in the game a lot of times.”
Napavine didn’t help themselves after receiving the ball, though. In the first set alone, the Tigers had 14 hitting errors.
“You can’t win a game with that,” Dailey said. “Just unforced errors.”
After the SunDome Volleyball festival on Friday and three games in the four days since, Napavine will now have eight days off before their next game, a home matchup against Mossyrock.
“I think it’ll be good for the girls,” Dailey said. “Unfortunately, tonight was a step back in our confidence level. But I think that the girls are looking forward to having the opportunity to get back in the gym and really work on fine tuning some things and building confidence.”
Tenino will be back at home on Thursday, when Centralia will come to town.
Carpenter said she’s looking forward to that matchup, saying Centralia is always a fun team to play, and she added that she hopes it's another step in the right direction for a team that she believes can make some noise this fall.
“I’m super excited for the season,” Carpenter said. “I’m super excited for them to pull together. I think there’s something special about this group, they just don’t know it yet.”
