Behind star front-row players who often shine by winning points at the net, the Prairie volleyball team has a few ‘glue girls’ to hold the Falcons together.
Prairie earned a 25-15, 25-22, 27-25 win over Kelso on Thursday to sweep the season series over its 3A Greater St. Helens League foe, while moving one step closer to winning the league title with three matches left.
In a nail-biting third set between two teams ranked in the top 10 of the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A poll, the Falcons (11-1, 5-0) came back from a 25-24 deficit with three straight points to seal a win. Sophomore Gracie Jacoby and senior Claire Neuman registered back-to-back kills, before a Kelso (9-4, 3-2) hit sailed out of bounds for the match-clinching point.
“Just communication, everybody coming together and all wanting it,” junior Alivia Snyder said, “it felt really good.”
Jacoby and Neuman paced the Falcons with 18 and 17 kills, respectively. Each chipped in 12 digs, while Jacoby led the team with four blocks and six aces.
Those numbers often grab headlines, for good reason, though a number of other players fulfilling their roles make the Falcons complete.
Snyder, for one, is listed as a “utility” on the Falcons’ roster because the junior does a little bit of everything.
She opened Thursday’s match as Prairie’s primary setter and finished with a team-high 19 assists, while senior Marissa Raley posted 18 assists. Snyder also moonlights as a hitter and plays a key role in the Falcons’ defense, adding four kills and 10 digs Thursday.
“I just try to bring as much as I can and do everything,” Snyder said. “In case someone is having a hard time, I (can) take over their role and help them out. … It’s just fun being able to do everything — hustling for every ball, getting to hit and helping out the team.”
Junior libero Avery Eterno is well-versed in hustle plays as well.
With a team-high 20 digs in Thursday’s match, Eterno is often on the receiving end of an opponent’s serve, tasked with keeping a ball in play by any means necessary.
“I just think to myself, ‘just go,'” Eterno described. “Like, just throw your body, that’s all it takes.”
A number of players like Eterno were reserves last season when Prairie placed fifth at the 3A state tournament and finished the season with a 21-4 record. Often watching from the bench, they gained valuable experience watching a strong senior class led by Ali Millspaugh, Diamond Doutrive, Emelyn Cecil and Madelyn Moore.
They’ve tried to build on that foundation in expanded roles this season.
“I had a lot of girls I looked up to who were seniors last year, especially Eme Cecil, who was the libero,” Eterno said. “I think we’re just pushing to beat that — that’s our goal.”
Prairie has three 3A GSHL matches remaining as the program goes for its third straight league title. But first, they’ll draw a rematch against Camas, one of the state’s top-ranked 4A teams that handed the Falcons their only regular-season loss so far. The Falcons see that Oct. 29 match as a good tune-up before they push for a playoff run.
“We’re feeling good for (the) postseason and ready to win,” Snyder said.
