BATTLE GROUND — Energized by the return of an injured player, the Camas volleyball team picked an ideal time to get the best of Battle Ground.
Scoring the final seven points of the fourth set, the Papermakers defeated the Tigers on Saturday to claim the Class 4A District 4 championship. The 25-14, 12-25, 25-16, 25-22 win at Battle Ground locked up the 12th consecutive trip to state for the Camas volleyball program.
The return of junior Erika Weber, who injured her ankle in a loss on Oct. 22 at Battle Ground, provided an energy boost for the Papermakers.
“I’m so thankful to be playing on the team that I am,” said Weber, who credited physical therapy and a lot of time in ice buckets for her ability to return to action two weeks sooner than expected. “It’s so significant for us to win here because we came back from two losses (to Battle Ground).”
Camas and Battle Ground shared the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League championship. Camas won in five sets in September. Battle Ground won in four sets in October. The Tigers then won a tiebreaking match last weekend in four sets for the right to host the district tournament.
On Saturday, Battle Ground bounced back to beat Skyview in four sets to earn the district’s No. 2 seed to state. It is the first time since 1989 a Battle Ground volleyball team has advanced to state.
The Class 4A state tournament will be played on Friday and Saturday in Lacey at St. Martin’s University and Timberline High School. In the round-of-16 on Friday, Camas faces Gig Harbor at 1:30 p.m. and Battle Ground faces Central Valley of Spokane at 3:15 p.m.
Weber’s return was an important difference from the last two matches against Battle Ground, according to Camas coach Julie Nidick.
“I’ve got a quiet team overall, and Erika’s the one who has the mouth, is the one who is positive and picking everyone up on the court,” Nidick said. “The girls who came in for her are great players too, but they’re quieter. Erika brought back the energy tonight.”
That energy helped Camas get off to a quick start, with solid defense and crisp passing propelling the Papermakers to a quick lead in the first set. After Battle Ground dictated momentum with improved passing in the second set, Camas jumped to a quick 6-1 lead in the third set as Carly Banks, Lauren Harris and Abby Roach provided points.
“We had to control what we can control, which is playing for each other and with energy,” said Banks, who explained that controlled swings were key to her 15 kills. “We had the energy the whole match. We lost the second set but we still had the spirit.”
The fourth set looked to be going Battle Ground’s way. The Tigers built a 19-11 lead, but the Papermakers responded.
“Our mindset was that we train every day for this and we’re not going to give up now,” Weber said, describing the force behind the fourth-set rally.
Camas scored the final seven points of the match, the last six when Sophi Jacobson was serving.
Jacobson had 10 kills, two blocks and two aces. Lauren Harris had eight kills and 15 digs, Abby Young had 14 digs and setter Christina Elliott had 37 assists.
“We just weren’t in system,” Battle Ground coach Cheyenne Knight said, noting that the Tigers made too many mistakes against Camas.
“We didn’t take Camas out of their game, they took us out of ours,” Knight said.
Battle Ground 3, Skyview 1 — Knight said she allowed her team five minutes to feel bad about the loss to Camas. The Tigers earned their spot in state by beating the Storm 25-18, 25-11, 21-25, 25-18.
Brooke VanSickle had 17 kills, three blocks, 14 assists, seven aces and 12 digs to lead the Tigers. The junior had 34 kills in Saturday’s two matches. Hallie Wyles added 10 kills and 19 digs, and Ashley Watkins contributed eight kills, four blocks and 19 assists.
