No. 2 Selah wins battle of unbeatens
October 10, 2008 by Roger Underwood
SELAH — A cursory glance at the 3-0 score might lead one to think Selah played just another volleyball match Thursday night.
It wasn’t, of course. It never is when the Vikings go up against Grandview, as they did before a big and boisterous crowd at Carl Kellman Gym.
From left, Selah's Kelli Jones, Erin Smith, Jaime Alliston, Kierstin Wilson and Natalie Fickes celebrate after winning a point in the first set on Thursday night in Carl Kellman Gym in Selah. (Kris Holland/Yakima Herald-Republic)
“There was definitely a lot of motivation for us,” Selah senior Kierstin Wilson said after totaling 14 kills in her team’s 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 triumph. “They’ve been really good the last couple of years and so have we.”
Enough so that Selah is in pursuit of a fourth consecutive Class 2A state title and Grandview is poised at its usual spot among the 2A elite. The Greyhounds were ranked No. 1, in fact, with the Viks No. 2 beginning play Thursday.
Accordingly, each team led its respective CWAC division at 6-0.
And through the first set the teams dueled evenly, with the Greyhounds leading 18-16 before two aces by Jamie Alliston and a pair of kills by Wilson spurred Selah’s 9-2 finishing run.
“Our girls sensed that it was a playoff atmosphere and I think Grandview did, too,” Vikings coach Kay Aberle said. “That first game was very important for us. To go point to point to point with them and then pull away, it was helpful for our girls to know they could do that.”
Selah never trailed in the second set, but fell behind early in the third and faced a 4-1 deficit before an ace by Samantha Harris and another kill by Wilson sparked a 10-1 Viking burst.
Grandview's Kaitee Eucker, left, and Sydney Mottice try to defend against Selah's Erin Smith in the first set Thursday night in Carl Kellman Gym in Selah. (Kris Holland/Yakima Herald-Republic)
Erin Smith put down three of her 14 kills as Selah led 21-14, but the Hounds rallied behind explosive 6-foot-1 senior Kinzi Poteet.
Finishing with 12 kills, three blocks and nine digs, Poteet served four consecutive points that brought Grandview even at 23 before a net violation restored the lead for Selah. Harris’ kill then finished it.
Asked if the Vikings had played their best match of the season, Wilson said, “As a team, definitely. But we haven’t peaked yet.”
Aberle agreed, and said there was a clear resemblance between this team and the Vikings of 2006, who won the school’s fifth state title under her watch.
Darcy Scheidt led Selah’s championship run last year before Aberle opted for a one-year return.
“We’re young,” Aberle said of her squad that lists only four seniors, “so we’ve kept things pretty simple so far. But we’re putting in a little more and a little more as we go along. These girls will only get better.”
And the Greyhounds will almost certainly be back. Selah and Grandview have opposed each other in the last two district title matches.
Grandview highlights: Kinzi Poteet 12 kills, 3 blocks, 9 digs.
Selah highlights: Erin Smith 14 kills, 3 aces, 4 blocks; Kierstin Wilson 14 kills; Natalie Fickes 28 assists; Jamie Alliston 3 aces; Miranda Gunvaldson 13 digs.
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