Camas beats Prairie in volleyball as each test the other prior to postseason

With the postseason rapidly approaching, Camas and Prairie volleyball took a break from league play Tuesday to test each other.

Both are ranked No. 2 in their respective classifications in the latest state coaches poll. Both have goals of contending for state titles at the Class 4A and Class 3A state tournaments Nov. 21-22 in Yakima.

And both took lessons from Tuesday’s clash, which Camas won in three sets by scores of 25-15, 25-22, 25-21.

Camas (12-1) took pride in its fast start, which saw it dominate the first set and the early part of the second set. But seniors Shaylee Stephen and Quinn Pedersen said the Papermakers will learn from later half of the match when Prairie offered a stiffer challenge.

“We let up a bit during the second set and third set,” Stephen said. “So that shows us how to step up our game during all three sets instead of just the first.”

Stephen (6-foot-3) and Pedersen (6-2) were central to their team’s solid play at the net, which saw the Papermakers collect 14 blocks.

“Up at the net, our team is very cohesive with each other,” Stephen said. “We know how to move with each other if something is changing. I think that’s one way in which our team has come far, working together on (off the ball) things.”

That strong play at the net complemented a Camas attack led by University of Miami commit Ella Thompson with 15 kills. Stephen and Lillian Zarzana each added eight kills.

Camas, which has three 4A Greater St. Helens League games remaining, has made a point of sprinkling in tough non-league competition throughout the season. Tuesday’s match was the seventh this season against a team ranked in the top 10.

“When we play our league teams we see them multiple times each season,” Pedersen said. “Playing these out of league competitors shows us new things and lets us play different defenses.”

Prairie (12-1) hasn’t had as many chances to face tough non-league competition this season. Coach Jen Palmer said a tournament Oct. 10-11 in San Diego was the only time her team has faced opponents comparable to Camas.

“I’d like to play Camas seven times this season,” Palmer said. “I love that tonight we got challenged.”

Palmer took heart in that her team kept pace with the Papermakers in the second half of Tuesday’s match. She said the Falcons will work on making adjustments quicker than they did against Camas.

“We haven’t faced a lot of hitters who hit the ball to that speed,” she said. “There’s not many other teams we’ll face that will give us that same offensive and defensive challenge, just because of how good they are at the net.”