CASTLE ROCK — After all the goodbye hugs, senior Abby Cummings could look back, through tear-filled eyes, and be thankful for the season the King’s Way Christian volleyball team had.
“We were really just thankful that we had a season because we really weren’t sure,” Cummins said. “ Especially during the fall when we weren’t able to get in the gym at all, that hurt us. But just for the short season we had, we honestly did a great job. And I’m just really proud of each one of our girls.”
The Knight were hoping to put cap on their season with a win in the 1A district championship match at Castle Rock.
But for the second time in about a week, the Knights fell in five sets to Goldendale.
Playing as an interim member of the 1A Trico League, the 2B Timberwolves completed an unbeaten season with 3-2 win over King’s Way, 16-25, 26-24, 25-18, 21-25, 15-8 in the 1A district championship match at Castle Rock.
After splitting the first two sets, Goldendale jumped out quickly on the night 8-1 in the third set and 9-1 in the fourth. But the Knights fought back the fourth to force of deciding fifth set.
First with Natalie O’Neil serving, the Knights cut a 15-9 deficit in the fourth to tie it 15-15. Then with Cummins serving, King’s Way turned a 19-16 deficit into a 21-19 advantage.
“We just said what else can we do but put it all out on the court and fight for it,” King’s Way senior Abby Cummins said. “We just battled back point by point and kept pushing.”
Cummins said it’s what the Knights have done all season, and even during the uncertain offseason.
“I love this team so much,” Cummins said. “We’re so close-knit we’re like a family. And I know of us can get it done. I trust every single one of them. We always fight back. We get down by six then we go on a run because we want it, and we have that heart of a team.”
Cummins will get a few weeks before beginning practices with the King’s Way girls basketball team late next month. Then it’s off to Boise State, where she hopes to play volleyball at the club level.
Cummins had 42 assists, eight kills and four blocks. Cameron Young added 16 kills and 12 digs.
In the third-place match, La Center beat Castle Rock 27-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21 with Tiffany Chandler contributing 32 kills and 21 digs.
“Tiffany played amazing,” La Center coach Cymany O’Brien said. “She was facing a triple block at times and was seeing the floor really well and was finding holes.”
Jordayn Murphy added 13 kills and 17 digs for the Wildcats, and Elizabeth LeBouef had 38 assists and 14 digs.
