Columbia Basin Defeats Skagit Valley in 5-Set Thriller to End Quarterfinals

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – In the only match to make it past three sets in the quarterfinals, the Columbia Basin volleyball team defeated Skagit Valley (23-25, 25-15, 25-27, 25-19, 18-16) at the NWAC Volleyball Championship on Friday night at Pierce College.

The Hawks (27-3, 14-2 East) worked their way back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 in the match, winning the fourth and fifth sets in dramatic fashion. The final set was especially thrilling, needing three extra points to be decided as neither team was willing to give up. The fifth set alone featured 10 tie scores as the Hawks and Cardinals traded points throughout.

Hokulani Sagapolu was an enormous reason for the Hawks' success, finishing with 26 kills and a .397 hitting percentage. She was the go-to hitter for the team, especially as the match went later and later. She also had 18 digs and six blocks. Lucendy Perez added 12 kills and 13 digs. Josephine Thompson posted 43 assists and 28 digs for the Hawks.

The Cardinals (16-7, 8-4 North) had their own dominant hitter in Bryn Batten who was a danger anytime she touched the ball. Batten had 23 kills to go along with 10 digs and three service aces. Faith Baar had 13 kills and 15 digs and Sarah Cook had 11 kills and 12 digs. Kenna Flynn finished with 57 assists for SVC.

The Hawks advance to the NWAC semifinals on Saturday night as they take on East Region foe North Idaho at 5 p.m. The Hawks and Cardinals of NIC split the regular season series with a win apiece.

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