La Center beat Hoquiam and King’s Way Christian to clinch a state berth and advance to the district final Wednesday in the 1A district volleyball tournament in La Center.
The Wildcats will face Castle Rock at 3 p.m. Saturday in Castle Rock for the district title.
La Center beat Hoquiam 25-14, 25-9, 25-15 in the first round, then King’s Way Christian 25-13, 25-19, 20-25, 25-10 in the semifinals.
Laynie Erickson had 39 kills, 18 digs and nine aces in the two match to lead La Center. Amanda Holm had 69 assists, 15 digs and five aces. Sydney Mairose had 12 kills, 14 digs, six aces and five blocks, and Tiffany Chandler had 18 kills and 35 digs, Katie Leslie had 34 digs.
“We punched our ticket to state and are headed to the district championship for the thirrd year in a row,” La Center coach Cymany O’Brien said. “It was great to see the fire and energy from the girls. Playing two matches back to back like that can take a lot of a player. They came out in the march against King’s Way determined. … Katie Leslie played the match of her life tonight.”
King’s Way Christian opened with 25-12, 25-11, 25-11 over Forks. Dana Snider had 10 kills, four digs and three aces, Tyra Schroeder had 11 digs, and Abby Cummins added 20 assists, four digs and three kills.
Against La Center, Gracie Brown had eight kills, five digs and two blocks. Cummins added 21 assists, three kills and three aces and Schroeder had 13 digs.
King’s Way Christian will play Columbia-White Salmon at 10 a.m. Saturday in a loser-out match, needing to win two matches on Saturday to earn a state berth.
