By PAUL SHUGAR
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Pullman volleyball coach Jennifer Greeny might want to write a thank-you note to Kiona-Benton counterpart Jolyn Kintner.

After playing a tough, defensive battle against the Bears in the semifinals, the Greyhounds made short work of Mount Baker and its Cinderella dreams in the 2A volleyball state championship match Saturday in the SunDome. Pullman was never challenged in the match, winning 25-19, 25-14, 25-19.

"I think we were focused the whole day," Greeny said. "Kiona-Benton is a tough, tough team. I think playing them really prepared us for tonight's match.

"They knew it was going to be tough and they came out swinging."

The Greyhounds definitely had plenty of pop in their step, jumping out to a 8-2 lead in the first game. Mount Baker, which had defeated the Nos. 4, 1 and 8 ranked teams in the state to reach the finals, struggled to match No. 2 Pullman's intensity.

The Mounties, who were ranked 10th in the state entering the tournament, had no cake walk to the championship game Saturday. They needed five games to defeat Lakeside 25-15, 14-25, 28-26, 17-25, 16-14 in the semifinals.

But the Greyhounds spent their semifinal trying earn points against a strong Ki-Be squad. Despite dropping a marathon second game 32-30, Pullman won the other three games 25-11, 25-21, 25-20 to reach the championship match.

Middle blocker Miranda Weitz led the Greyhounds in the championship with 14 kills, Alyssa Garro chipped in nine kills and five aces and Ashley Cox finished with 36 assists.