By PAUL SHUGAR
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

One fifth-game rally guaranteed Ellensburg a trophy; another fifth-game collapse made sure that hardware said seventh.

Tumwater defeated the Bulldogs 16-25, 25-19, 25-18, 9-25, 15-10 to take fourth place in the Class 2A volleyball state tournament Saturday in the SunDome. The second five-game match of the day — third of the two-day tournament — left Ellensburg with a 2-2 tournament record and seventh place.

Despite trailing 2-1 earlier in the day against Mark Morris in a loser-out game, the Bulldogs rallied for a 24-26, 25-20, 21-25, 25-12, 15-13 to reach the trophy round. There, they again fell down 2-1 before forcing another fifth and deciding game.

Ellensburg jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Tumwater rallied to tie the fifth game at 7-7. Thanks to Bulldog miscues, the Thunderbirds never trailed from there to close out the win.

“We just can’t give up easy points,” Ellensburg coach Tara Affholter said. “We had four bad serves and three nets in that final game — that’s seven points we just can’t give away. With rally-point scoring and no sideouts, your errors are just so costly.”

Talia Venera and Kayla Standish led the Ellensburg offense with 13 kills each against Tumwater, and Standish added eight blocks. Katie Kelleher set up most of those points with 40 assists — finishing with 84 on the day — and Mercedes Chandler led the defense with 25 digs.

There were plenty of tears after the match as the Bulldogs said goodbye to five seniors who helped the team win a second-place trophy in the Class 3A tournament last year.

“We knew the end was going to be tough,” said Standish, who is only a junior. “I’m sad the seniors are leaving; they made this team work.”

After falling in five games to R.A. Long in the semifinals Friday, the Bulldogs were struggling to start Saturday against Mark Morris. The Monarchs just couldn’t account for Standish, who finished with 18 kills and 15 blocks in the match. Venera added 16 kills and had 25 digs.

Standish had two of her kills in the fifth game against Mark Morris to put Ellensburg ahead 7-2 early and guarantee the team another trophy. That's something Affholter believes the squad deserved after just missing the semifinals with a 15-12 fifth-game loss to R.A. Long in the quarterfinals.

“They were so willing to sacrifice for the team,” said Affholter of her players. “They were willing to not go out in the fourth game and not willing to give up.”

Ellensburg highlights: Talia Venera 29 kills, 25 digs; Kayla Standish 31 kills, 23 blks; Mercedes Chandler 25 digs, Katie Kelleher 84 assts.