VOLLEYBALL: Chiawana gets first-ever win over Richland

As Sadie Sparks emphatically hammered home the final point Tuesday, she also sent a clear message that Chiawana is the team to beat this season.

After two years of toiling in a new school building process, the Riverhawks earned the first volleyball win against visiting Richland in school history, 25-18, 27-29, 25-18, 26-24.

"We've already had our growing year," Sparks said. "This year, we're ready to go big."

Featuring a powerful 1-2 punch up front in Sparks and Shanita Hill, the Riverhawks also ended Richland's CBBN 4A 18-match winning streak.

"We had gone back and forth all summer. We liked our chances coming in, but you still have to go out and do it," Chiawana coach Jim Steach said. "We were excited to win this match, and we are excited to be where we are."

The win wasn't easy, though, as Chiawana let a 19-9 lead get away in the fourth set. Richland took a 21-20 lead and had set point at 24-23.

"We're used to resting when we get up big," Sparks said. "We forget that we have to push through."

The Riverhawks got stuck in a rotation where a few young players felt the pressure, according to Steach. The scene was reminiscent of last Tuesday's match against Wenatchee, when the Riverhawks let a 20-11 fourth-set lead get away, only to win the final set.