<I>DAMIAN?MULINIX/Chinook Observer</I><BR>Naselle's Taylor Wasmundt saves a ball during their match at South Bend last week.

SOUTH BEND – When you score 95 points in four games you figure to win the match, even if it against the top rated team in the Pacific 2B League. However, Naselle battled perennial Pacific 2B powerhouse South Bend for four razor close volleyball games, only to lose 3-1 in a non-league match-up there Sept. 15. The Comets lost game one 25-22, outlasted the South Bend 29-27, and then lost nailbiters 25-21 and 25-23.

“The girls were determined and kept pushing through,” Naselle coach Kim Eaton said. “It was awesome to see them not giving in.” This after the Comets had played a marathon number of games at the Yakima Sun Dome Saturday and then came from behind to trounce Three Rivers Christian in five games on Sept. 14.

Nicole Tarabochia led the Comets with seven kills and Nicole Laney once again played a solid all-around game and showed excellent leadership. Nicolle Best and Megan Agee each served 100 percent for the game. Eaton said, “Our serve-receive percentage (90 percent) was well below average and that is why we lost the leads that we had. The girls played very well and they really showed their ability to work together as a team.”

Eaton switched Taylor Wasmundt and Baylee Clark again between sets to middle and outside hitters and they were able to transition very well according to the coach. “Baylee had some very nice back row digs from some very hard hit balls,” Eaton praised. “Nicole Laney again played an outstanding game. She is such an awesome team leader and her ability to play the game whether setting, hitting, or digging; she just stands out.”

Eaton concluded, “All the girls worked very hard throughout the match and managed to keep the intensity level high even though I know they were exhausted from the last few days.” For South Bend Jessica Anderson led the Tribe with six kills, with Kelsey Staats and Vanessa Eang adding five kills each. Eang was also served 13-13, while Chelsea Dockter was credited with 14 digs.

The Comets JV’s lost their first match of the season 17-25 and 17-25 after Naselle drubbed South Bend’s C-squad team 25-11 and 25-12.

Mossyrock comes back to topple tired Comets 3-1

NASELLE – The Comets whizzed to a 25-21 victory in the first game against Mossyrock Thursday, but then a tired Naselle team dropped the next three contests 21-25, 12-25 and 14-25 to the Lady Vikings in a non-league volleyball match. Coach Kim Eaton said, “I guess we have a right to be tired, this was our 27th game since Saturday morning. I was pleased that we played like we are capable of the first two games against a hard-hitting Mossyrock team. Then exhaustion set in.”

Nicole Tarabochia was the Comets power at the net as she knocked down 10 kills and Taylor Wasmundt had four kills and played an excellent floor game. Nicolle Best served four aces for Naselle and Tarabochia and Wasmundt each added a pair. Haleigh See led with five assists and Nicole Laney added three for the Comets. Tarabochia was tops with eight digs, Laney had six, Wasmundt five and See added four to Naselle’s total of 29.

Eaton said, “Best and Laney were standouts in serve-receive for us. We really improved on that team statistic, which was one of our goals tonight. Wasmundt was very good at the net, as was Baylee Clark. Tarabochia and See were consistent as usual.”

Mossyrock served 15 aces to eight for the Comets and had 37 kills to Naselle’s 15, but the Comets hustled for 29 digs to 21 for the visitors. Naselle whiffed on only seven serves, while Mossyrock miss-fired ten times, including seven serves that were out in game two. The Comets are now 2-2 for the year.

The junior varsity lost in three sets 15-25, 25-22, 12-15. Amber Wirkkala, Cassie Van Dusen and Danielle Larson received praise from Coach Rhiana Jacot. The C-squad defeated Mossyrock 25-22 and 25-16 behind solid play from Vicki Corona and Ciara Sandell according to coach Bekah Wirkkala.

Comets pull out 3-2 win over Three Rivers Christian

NASELLE – Three Rivers Christian of Longview looked for all the world like they were going to win three straight volleyball games and dominate their non-league match with Naselle at Lyle Patterson Gym Monday. However, no one told the Comets as they zoomed back to take the final three contests and the match to go to 2-0 on the young season.

Coach Kim Eaton said, “This win was a real morale boost for us. The girls gave all they had after playing in Yakima for 12 hours on Saturday (at the Sun Dome Volleyball Festival). We came back strong after making some adjustments for the third game, but we have some exhausted girls right now.”

Nicole Tarabochia was ecstatic, saying, “I have never had a comeback in my life like we had tonight. This is the best feeling. All of the girls on the team really worked hard and together.” After knotting the match at two games apiece Tarabochia began the rubber contest with two kills to tie the score at 2-2. She then served four aces and Haleigh See set up Taylor Wasmundt for a kill to spark the Comets to a resounding 11-2 lead. Nicole Laney assisted Nicolle Best and Baylee Clark for kills, Clark had a key block and See and Wasmundt made digs to help Naselle close the deal with a 15-6 victory.

The first two games were all Eagles. Naselle’s Best served three aces to give the home team the early 3-0 lead in game one, but then Three Rivers tied the score on nine occasions, including 24-24. A kill and an ace gave the visitors the win in extra play 26-24. Five missed serves by Naselle in both the first and second games were instrumental in giving the Eagles the advantage.

Game two the Eagles flew to a 24-10 lead. A late rush triggered by Laney’s serves and floor leadership helped bring Naselle back to within 16-24 and was a portent of things to come. In the pivotal third game with the score 10-10 Clark had a kill and an ace, Laney had a dig and an ace, Tarabochia knocked down a pair of spikes and See and Best each had aces to help the Comets pull away 23-14 and eventually nail down a 25-17 win.

The fourth game Naselle kept the momentum on their side of the court as Best had three aces and a pair of kills and Tarabochia slammed a pair of kills and contributed two digs. With the score tied at 23-23 Tarabochia made a key save to give Naselle the lead and Clark dunked a shot over the net to an opening in the Eagles’ defense for the game-winning kill at 25-23.

Eaton said, “Nicole Laney was our quiet leader and she helped pull us through some tough points. Nicolle Best had several clutch hits and Taylor Wasmundt outside and Baylee Clark in the middle made key adjustments. I couldn’t ask for a better team effort.”

Team statistics showed Naselle with 21 aces to 13 for Three Rivers, but 15 missed serves to only three for the Longview girls. Kills were 25-25 and blocks were 5-5, with both teams passing for 16 assists apiece in the evenly-contested match. The Comets hustled for 25 digs in the win.

Best led in aces with nine and See added six and Best also had seven kills to six for Tarabochia and Clark, while Wasmundt added three. Laney dished out eight assists and Tarabochia and See added four each. Wasmundt led with three blocks and Laney was tops for the Comets with seven digs. Tarabochia and Best added four and Wasmundt and Megan Agee each had three digs to their credit. A notable absentee was Carley Kitzman who is “no longer with the team” according to Eaton.

In Yakima the Comets defeated White Swan, Easton, Newport, Selah JV’s, and Kiona-Benton and lost to Montesano. “The girls played hard all day Saturday and enjoyed the experience of playing in the Sun Dome,” Eaton explained. Naselle finished second in their bracket.

The junior varsity defeated the Eagles 25-21 and 25-13 behind the hustle of Ciara Sandell and the serving of Shae Trost, Amber Wirkkala, Sam Bauer, and Vicki Corona according to coach Rhiana Jacot.