Volleyball | Auburn Mountainview losses

AUBURN — East Valley of Spokane spoiled Auburn Mountainview's bid to win its own Puget Sound Adidas Volleyball Tournament and retain its No. 1 ranking in Class 3A.

And Mountainview's Megan McBride would like to express her gratitude.

"They showed our weak areas," the Oregon State-bound setter said after the 25-18, 25-19 loss in Saturday's championship match. "We want to thank them for that, because now we know what to work on."

Still, it was the best finish for the Auburn Mountainview Lions in the three-year history of the tournament, which drew a quality field.

McBride can't wait for a rematch, which could come at state.

"I'd love to see them again at state," she said. "I hope we do. We'll be a better team by then."

Of the 24 teams entered, 15 were state qualifiers last season and eight were ranked in the top-10 in their respective classifications in preseason polls.

Mountainview did not lose a game in two rounds of pool play, going 12-0, but was pushed to three games in the semifinals by sixth-ranked Shadle Park, another Spokane school. Unranked East Valley, meanwhile, advanced with a 2-0 win over Kamiak.

Unranked Kamiak, which beat Rogers of Puyallup in last year's tournament final, placed third with a young squad. The Knights started the week by knocking off Shorecrest, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A. They then reached Saturday's semifinals before losing a close one to East Valley, 25-21, 26-24, then topped Shadle Park in a one-game contest to decide third and fourth, 25-21.

"I'm very pleased," first-year Kamiak head coach Natalie Bowie said. "It's a huge confidence boost. To be honest, I didn't think we'd be ready for a tournament like this.

Notes

• Auburn Riverside, rated No. 9 in Class 4A after reaching last year's 3A title match, showed some youth and inexperience in finishing eighth. The Ravens lost 2-0 to Mountainview in the second round of pool play, which knocked them into the lower half of the Gold Bracket, where they then lost to Lynden and Rogers.

• Lynden, rated No. 7 in the Washington State Coaches' Association 2A poll, had an impressive showing, finishing fifth. Archbishop Murphy, rated third in 2A was 18th. The Lyncs knocked off Kamiakin of Kennewick, which came in ranked No. 7 in 4A, in their final match of the day, 2-1.

• Other finishers were Sumner (ninth), Tahoma (11th), Seattle Prep (12th), Bainbridge (14th), Jackson (17th), Auburn (20th), White River (21st), Lake Stevens (22nd) and Inglemoor (23rd).