The Camas volleyball team posted a 3-0 victory on Tuesday, but the Papermakers had to feel like they survived a storm, in more ways than one.
“We always find Skyview to have a really good team, and we knew a lot of these girls from the years before, and from club, so we knew we were going to have some tough competition tonight,” Camas senior Emma Villaluz said. “But we didn’t want to focus on that. We wanted to focus on us and our side in this game today. What are we going to do? Because in volleyball, you play on your side of the court. So we just wanted to worry about us and what we can control.”
The Papermakers controlled the momentum in key moments to escape with 25-22, 28-26, 25-17 victory over Skyview to put Camas alone atop the 4A Greater St. Helens League.
The second set proved pivotal for Camas. After building a 22-20 lead, Skyview scored four of the next five points to lead 24-23.
Camas rallied back to go up 25-24, before Skyview took a 26-25 lead. Then the Papermakers ran off the last three points to take the second set.
“We were able to make those small adjustments that helped us dig ourselves out of the holes we put ourselves in,” Camas coach Michelle Ford said. “We were able to battle back from some set points and push through some tough stretches.”
In the third, Camas was in control, forging a 22-11 lead before finishing off the Storm 25-17.
“Yesterday we talked about everyone doing their job and having a goal for each job,” Villaluz said. “For example, outside, play defense first, set the blocks and hits. We all had these individual goals to perform like this little machine that all works together. So I think that was really successful for us.”
Villaluz finished with 13 kills and 12 digs. Grace Varsek had 18 digs and seven kills, and Emma Speakman added 11 digs for the Papermakers (3-0 4A GSHL).
Skyview (2-1) was led by Tyra Schaub with 14 digs and seven kills. Lia Hawken had nine kills and eight digs, and Avalon Watkins had 13 digs and 10 assists.
Having shared the league title with Skyview last season, Villaluz knows there’s still work to be done for the Papermakers.
“I think we’ve seen a huge improvement for us as a team in general since the beginning of the season,” Villaluz said. “We’ve had our highs and lows, but overall I see us … going up the stepladder little by little. It starts with winning this game, and then it’s our next one on Thursday, then hopefully winning league and possibly going to bi-district and state. So this game is just another little step up that stepladder.”
