Roadrunners Fall to Skagit Valley 3-2 in Final

COURTESY: NWAC

LAKEWOOD, Wash. - The NWAC has a new volleyball champion. In a dramatic five-set match, the Skagit Valley Cardinals defeated the Linn-Benton Roadrunners to capture the 2024 NWAC Volleyball Championship on Sunday at Pierce College.

The win is the first title in program history for Skagit Valley and head coach Joe Amaral. After finishing as runner-ups in 2022 against LBCC, the Cardinals finally hoisted the trophy at the end of the season. It took an incredible effort to defeat the Roadrunners, ending LBCC's historic 89-match winnning streak and three-year run as champions. The Roadrunners take second place after an incredible run at the top of the NWAC, one that will go down in the history books.

After Linn-Benton took the first set convincingly 25-19, the Cardinals showed the resiliency they have had all season and during their tournament run. Skagit Valley bounced back with two thrilling two-point set victories, winning set two 26-24 and set three 28-26. The Beaks took set four 25-20 to bring a fifth and final set. In the fifth set, the Cardinals got out to an early lead and withstood any runs from the Roadrunners, not relinquishing their lead. Leading 9-7, the Cardinals won six of the last 10 points to claim the set, the match and the title.

The Cardinals defense tallied 100 total digs with five players reaching at least 10. Sophomore setter Hayden Claeys was named the Tournament MVP as she played all six rotations, making big plays as a defender, blocker and most importantly, setter. She finished the match with 54 assists, 14 digs, two aces, two kills and block assist.

Sarah Cook was impressive on both ends of the floor with 20 kills, 20 digs and three block assists. Cook was the leading attacker for the Cardinals with 70 total attacks. Tanna Kollen had 16 kills and three block assists, Madisyn Butenschoen had 11 kills and 27 digs and Bailey Roggen also recorded 10 kills with three blocks. Defensively, Makena Maldonado finished with 33 digs to lead all players.

The Roadrunners were led by Brooklyn Willard who posted 22 kills, 30 digs and four block assists. Grace Luttrell was impactful everytime she touched the ball, finishing with 20 kills, a .292 hitting percentage, and seven total blocks. Kinsey Brelage had 30 digs and four aces while Meah Carley posted 32 assists with 14 digs and Avery Hughes had 24 assists.

The Beaks played the second half of the match without 2nd Team All-Region player Maddy Hellem who left the match after making a diving play into one of the net posts. Hellem is an incredibly impactful player for LBCC, playing all six rotations. She finished with 14 digs and six kills. 

The sophomore class for Linn-Benton finishes their time at LBCC with an incredible 70-1 overall record, helping set an NWAC record for longest winning streak.

Skagit Valley proved to be a team that was exceptionally resilient. In the semifinals, the Cardinals trailed in the first set 24-21, but won five points in a row to take the set. Against the Roadrunners in the finals, the Cardinals fell behind 1-0 in the match, but bounced back to win two sets in a row in extra points.

2024 NWAC Volleyball All-Tournament Team

Most Valuable Player: Hayden Claeys, Skagit Valley

First Team
Sarah Cook, Skagit Valley
Madisyn Butenshoen, Skagit Valley
Grace Luttrell, Linn-Benton
Brooklyn Willard, Linn-Benton
Zuri Reeser, Columbia Basin
McKenna Steiner, Yakima Valley

Second Team
Tanna Kollen, Skagit Valley
Kinsey Brelage, Linn-Benton
Kaylie Christopher, Columbia Basin
Ana Hrle, Yakima Valley
Jocie Snyder, Bellevue
Madison Mamizuka, Highline
Keysha McKean, Treasure Valley
Saydee Heslop, Edmonds