VOLLEYBALL: State Champs! West Valley wins it all

Courtesy of sportsyakima.com

LACEY, Wash. — Unbeaten in September is promising.

Still unbeaten in October is the brink of something special.

Finishing unbeaten in November?

That’s perfection, a state championship and a dream come true.

West Valley’s volleyball team was still trying to soak that in late Saturday night after defeating Eastside Catholic in four games to not only capture the Class 3A state title but crown a 35-0 season.

“It’s unreal,” said senior Sarah Joffs through tears and a frozen smile.

“We worked so hard and believed in ourselves so much, but to be here and finally do it. It’s a dream.”

Avenging a state semifinal loss last year to Eastside Catholic, and knocking out the defending champion in the afternoon to reach the final, the Rams brought all their weapons to the big dance and overpowered the big-hitting Crusaders 25-16, 21-25, 25-17, 25-20 at St. Martin’s University.

Cheered by a vocal band of face-painted students lining the upper-level railing at Marcus Pavilion, West Valley went toe-to-toe at the net with an EC crew loaded with three 6-foot-1 hitters and a mission of its own to avoid a third runner-up finish in four years.

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