CHS volleyball team nails Battle Ground

The Camas High School volleyball team dropped the hammer on Battle Ground.

The Tigers snatched the first set 25-22 before the Papermakers found their groove and finished off the defending league and district champions 25-14, 25-21, 25-16 Thursday, in Camas.

“We just wanted it and we went out there and we showed it on the court. I am so proud of everyone,” said defensive specialist Maddy Pfaff. “Think back to every positive point you had. Every single kill, every single ace, every single amazing dig and pass. You just visualize yourself through the rest of the sets and you just know that we’re going to do the exact same thing.”

Pfaff had a strong all-around performance with 13 kills, 11 digs and an ace. Keelie LeBlanc led the attack with 17 kills, five digs and two aces. Whitney Quist collected 12 kills and a block. Joan Varsek earned nine kills and four digs. Courtney Clemmer chipped in with seven kills and three blocks.

“I felt like it was a really powerful match for our team because we started off with a loss, but then we came back and really took control of the other three sets,” LeBlanc said.

Aubrey Stanton anchored the offensive outburst with 47 assists, five digs and four kills.

“She did a really good job of running the court and being the glue,” said head coach Michelle Allen.

Stanton hopes this is just the start of something special on the court for the Papermakers. Their goal is to make it back to the state tournament this year after falling short of those expectations last season.

“We proved we could connect well, so we need to keep growing off that, making more plays and trying to mess up the other blockers as much as we can,” Stanton said.

Halle Sessons kept the ball alive on the Camas side with 19 digs. Maddy Gilchrist gathered nine assists and Emma Villauz had six digs.

“I’ll remember the intensity and just how much power every player on the court had,” LeBlanc said. “How amazing Aubrey and Maddy were setting, and just the amount of fun we were all having getting those kills.”

The Papermakers swept Union 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 Oct. 4, at Union High School. LeBlanc, Pfaff and Quist each delivered seven kills. Stanton had 14 assists and Gilchrist added 12. Colleen McAvoy protected the net with five blocks and four kills.