Volleyball / Class 3A State Tournament -- Saints Take Fifth, Beating Islanders -- Top-Ranked Fife Wins State Crown

LACEY - When Interlake beat Mercer Island for the first time this season, the players erupted in screams of joy.

Coach Denise Frank was more subtle.

"It feels so good," she said.

The Saints beat the Islanders 8-15, 15-12, 16-14 yesterday.

It was the fifth time the teams had played this season, and this victory came in the game for fifth place at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament yesterday at St. Martin's College.

The Saints (21-10) trailed 12-8 in the third set, but rallied and held off two match points, thanks in part to the spiking of Tiare Alailima, a senior who was the KingCo Conference MVP.

"Our kids knew she was the best," said Mercer Island Coach Hayley Lorenzen, "and we had to stop her again for the fifth time. But we couldn't."

The senior middle blocker for the Saints had 31 kills against Mercer Island, giving her 102 for the tournament.

"I am so happy," Alailima said. "This is something we have worked for all year. We knew we could do it. It was our last game and everyone gave it everything they got."

On match point, senior Elizabeth Iosua slammed home the final kill for the victory. Iosua finished with 11 kills, and setter Amy Cronin had 32 assists.

"We kept siding out and siding out, and came from behind," Frank said. "We played them tough."

The fifth-place trophy is the best finish for the Saints since they finished second in 1986 to Ferndale.

It was also the best finish for the Islanders, who went 28-4 and won the KingCo and Sea-King District championships. Sophomore Julia Rindlaub finished with 10 kills and 27 digs, while her sister, senior Susan Rindlaub, had 9 kills. Katie Innes also had 9 kills, and Allison Campbell had 29 assists.

"Our girls gave 100 percent, everything they could," Lorenzen said. "This is unquestionably the best team I've ever coached."

Fife beat Lynden 15-11, 13-15, 15-6 (championship) - Somebody once asked Fife Coach Jan Kirk if she ever gets tired of winning championships. To which Kirk responded, "There's no greater feeling in the world."

The Trojans, No. 1 in the 3A state rankins, finished the year at 37-3. They won AA titles in 1992, 1995 and 1996.

Lynden, the Northwest League champion and ranked third coming in, finished at 28-5.

"This group of kids," Kirk said, "has played better than they are physically capable, and I mean that as the utmost compliment. They played their hearts out and gave 100 percent in practice."

Lisa Beauchene, their senior setter, had a great all-around match for the Trojans. She had four kills, three blocks and 12 assists, and three consecutive aces in the second set. She also provided the vocal leadership on the court and the huddles.

"Between the second and the third set," Kirk said, "Lisa got on them (her teammates). She gave us the vocal leadership we needed. She did a good job of saying the things that needed to be said."

Beauchene had two blocks and a kill in the third set to give Fife a 12-6 lead. Two side-outs followed, before a pair of Lynden errors put Fife up 14-6. On match point, Beauchene assisted on a Jenny Lloyd kill to give Trojans the title.

Lloyd finished with 12 kills and a pair of aces, while Kim Lee had nine kills.

Julie Roberts had 12 kills for Lynden, while Hattie Van Beek had seven kills and four blocks, and Courtney Axelson had 27 assists.

Selah beat Mark Morris (3rd-4th places) - The Vikings overcame the stubborn Monarchs from Longview to bring the third-place trophy back to the Yakima Valley with a 15-11, 15-11 victory. Leslie Nienstadt led third-ranked Selah (29-7) with 11 kills. Melissa Denny added nine kills while Trisha Webber had 31 assists. The Monarchs (30-10) were led by Allison Tennants' 10 kills and Kelly McGinty's nine kills and 10 assists.

West Valley (Yakima) beat Cedarcrest (7th-8th places) - The Red Wolves were swept in straight sets 15-8, 15-7 by the Rams.

"We're sad we didn't win," said Coach Christine Stefani-Hillestad, "but I'm glad. It's great that we made it to the second day. That's a Cinderella story in itself."

Cedardrest, which last went to state as an A school in 1994, finished the season with an 18-12 record. Seniors Erin Townsend and Katie Power led the Red Wolves with five kills each, and Julie Henry had 10 assists.

Highlights in Prep Scoreboard