Washington clips Columbus on Senior Night

WASHINGTON — Anytime a Washington event ends with Demon jacks, it was a successful night. It was Seniors Night Thursday and it had a great beginning (six senior starters), a suspenseful middle (rally from 24-17 to lead 25-24 before losing 28-26) and an even better finish.

That finish was the seniors leading a round of Demon jacks, which occurs after a Washington victory.

Washington defeated Columbus 3-1 to send Demon seniors Olivia Hamilton, Ella Leyden, Ava Turner, RyLee Fishback, Allyson Wenger, and Emma Stadler to victory (and some tears and hugs.)

"Senior night, it’s great to get a win, great to have them all playing at the same time, but an even bigger thing to me was them leading Demon jacks,“ Washington head coach Aaron Six said.

“It feels so good to get one more win with my teammates because this is a good group of girls, really good,” said senior Ava Turner, who had 22 digs in her libero position.

There have been few wins — 4-20 record her junior year, 7-22 this year — in Turner’s almost favorite sport. “It’s a tie with softball, maybe a little less.” So one last win was special.

A new coach for Turner’s senior year made practices different. “We get pushed harder and the energy is a lot different. It is really good, positive, everyone together and we work really hard. Doing that together, it’s made a difference.”

Wanting opportunities for seniors, Six had different people playing in different spots to get all the seniors on the court at the same time.

“Our first set with the seniors we got into a rhythm, then we went with our normal lineup and lost,” Six said.

The Demons won the first set 25-19, then trailed most of the second set. Six called timeout down 21-17 and the Demons rallied to take the lead 25-24 before losing 28-26.

Columbus may have had something to do with that. The Wildcats’ Victoria Howell hit 10 kills while Aracely Garza combined with Lily Coil for 19 more. Columbus totaled 33 kills to 40 for Washington. Sera Vela had 18 assists, 13 digs, five aces, three kills and a block.

“She’s very analytical watching film and always wants to try something because of things she will see,” Columbus head coach Lori Beenen said. “She is very athletic.“

Lily Coil served six aces. Miriam Ruvacalba and Isabelle Lagunas served two aces each. Howell had 14 digs, Coil nine, Lagunas seven as the Wildcats totaled 49 to the Demons 56.

Columbus is 4-20 and starts Class 2A postseason play at Durant Monday while 3A Washington plays at No. 4-ranked West Liberty.

Haley Mitchell put up 14 assists and Remy Messinger 21 for the Demons. Alex Murphy connected on 16 kills, Ella Greiner nine, Maci Williams seven, Messinger three, Kenia Espinosa three, Wenger and Fishback one each. Hamilton had two blocks. Ela Greiner landed six aces, Turner and Messinger four apiece. Greiner had six digs, Espinosa and Messinger five each, Leyden, Fishback and Mitchell four apiece and Wenger three.

Washington took the last two sets 25-20, 25-18.

“They caught us in the same serve receive each game and we just couldn’t figure it out,” Bennen said. “Sera is so competitive and will always keep a straight face no matter what happens. Victoria so solid. Lily will get down on herself but she’s still learning the game. Our libero (Isabelle Lagunas) is doing very well trying to be a leader.”

“We went on some great runs,” Six said, noting that has been missing for most of the season.

Columbus hit a lot from off the net because of Washington’s height advantage and because “We have to get ready for Durant because they will block us all night,” Beenen said.

“It was special to play and especially win,” Turner said. “I’ve been playing on that court for a really long time so it means a lot.”