LC volleyball poised to advance far at 1A state tourney
As the defending Class 1A state champions, Lynden Christian’s volleyball team enters this year’s tournament with a target on its back. It boasts some of the key components it used during last year’s run — outside hitters Kara Bajema and Hannah Rusnak along with middle Riley VanHulzen, who stepped up in a big way after the now graduated Morgan VanKooten went down with injury. The Lyncs are a young team but with plenty of upperclass weapons. Lynden Christian has been to 19 straight state tournaments, and its first state title came last season, which goes to show the difficulty of winning it all. The Lyncs could be the team to do it, though. Here’s how the tournament breaks down:
To win, Lynden Christian will need: Production from everyone. “If teams can key in on Kara and Hannah, that makes it tough for us,” coach Kim Grycel said in a phone interview. The LC offense’s first choice may be its stars, but players like Riley VanHulzen and Avery Dykstra have to play big roles for the Lyncs to keep advancing. The good news is both played well in the Lyncs’ district and bi-district title wins.
To top the Lyncs, opponents will need: To stop senior hitter and future University of Washington player Kara Bajema. The powerful hitter is one of the best in the state, and defenses have their A-game to stop her. She’s added a few different shots to go along with her booming hit that makes it near impossible to stop her completely, but slowing her down goes a long way to topping the Lyncs.
Lyncs first game: Montesano (17-1, Evergreen 1A champions) at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Yakima Valley SunDome
Other teams in the Lyncs quarter bracket: Cascade Christian (14-4) and Columbia Burbank (13-5)
Favorites to make the semifinals: Lynden Christian, King’s, Cedar Park Christian, Cascade Leavenworth.
Lynden Christian should make it from its quarter bracket, and the Lyncs could face myriad teams, but King’s might be the pick there. So LC and King’s could face off in the semifinal, which would be a rematch of last year’s state championship and this year’s Northwest District title match, which LC won 3-0. In the other semifinal, Cedar Park Christian is probably talented enough to get through if the Eagles can stop Naches Valley in the first round. A good chance the team Cedar Park meets in that semifinal will be Leavenworth Cascade, which placed fifth in last year’s tourney. Cascade is the only 1A team to beat the Lyncs this season and could be a true test in the championship should both make it that far.
The Herald’s projected final: Lynden Christian vs. Leavenworth Cascade.
Dark horse team: Kalama. The Chinooks have three 6-footers on the roster, are an undefeated 18-0 and won their conference handily. Kalama was two-and-out last year after winning the Trico and are just 2-9 in the last five years at the state tournament. Is this the year the Chinooks finally break through?
This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:32 PM with the headline "LC volleyball poised to advance far at 1A state tourney."