MCC Rivals Battle to the End - by Samantha Munn

    Richland and Kamiakin are two of the biggest rivals to play each other in the MCC (Mid Columbia Conference). After taking a loss to Chiawana on Tuesday, the Bombers fought back and won the last three sets, winning 3-1.

Jenna Holm (13) and Kelli Ostboe (6) defend the net against Kamiakin. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxell (RHS Yearbook).

In the first set, the Bombers lost with a score of 12-25. The Bombers were good at keeping the ball moving and forcing Kamiakin to guess their next move. Late in the set, with a score of 7-16 with Kamiakin ahead, they called a timeout. To help the Bombers stay ahead, senior Kelli Ostboe had a great block despite her being one of the shortest players on their team. After a hard-fought set, senior Ella Carrick said, "I was really nervous going in because we had a different lineup that we've never played with before, but then after set one, we changed the line, and we played our game." Senior Cassidi Ashbeck had many strong blocks. Kamiakin didn't stop with their powerful serves, but the Bombers had great communication and hustled to the ball. Left side, senior Kenzie Nealon added a nice tip-over to Kamiakin's side. 

Senior Kenzie Nealson (2) with a great pass. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxell (RHS Yearbook).

    The Bombers used the first loss to get back up in the second set. Kenzie Nealon leads off in the second set with strong serves and puts the Bombers up four points. The student section goes wild, the excitement of the anticipation of keeping this streak going. In the middle of the second set, the score would tip back and forth with Bomber teammates talking up the game, helping each other out on the court. The student sections were chanting back and forth as the tension got close to the scores. Senior Sophia Thompson hustled to every ball. The Bombers put in their effort and took the win in the second set with a score of 21-25, and the Bomber student section went wild, cheering on the Bombers for the rest of the sets. 

    At the start of the third set,  Kenzie Nealon got the Bombers in the lead with a strong set of aces. Bombers make sure to communicate throughout the game. Senior Kelli Ostboe hit off the third set with a nice secret tip making the score 12-10, causing Kamiakin to not know the Bomber's next move. With a tight set of points going back to back between teams, the Bombers had the battle harder than ever with a score of 30-29. The student section was rallying and helping keep the energy alive and battling with chants like "Stay on Tik Tok" and "Back to basics."  Ella Carrick spiked the ball over, and junior Payton Arland on Kamiakin attempted to get the ball and hit it over, but instead, it went out of bounds causing the Bombers to win the set with a score of 31-29. 

Teammates cheering on the Bombers against Kamiakin. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxell (RHS Yearbook).

    Continuing into the fourth set with a high mindset of keeping the lead,  Kenzie Nealon had a powerful hit in result for the Bombers to get the point. A little bit into the game, the Bombers were lacking communication and moving toward the ball, causing Kamiakin to make easy points. The bombers weren't going to let that stop them, and with a score neck and neck of 11-10, junior Gracie Moss spiked the ball right in the middle of the court, leaving people speechless, and now the Bombers were back on their game. The Bombers were prepared to get any secret passes over from Kamiakin. Junior Lily Eerkes from Kamiakin serves the ball over to Gracie Moss, and she tips it lightly, causing Carrick to dive to the floor to save it, and  Sophia Thompson hits it over, Kamiakin hits the ball back immediately after, and Moss hits a powerful spike over, making the score 16-13. With a timeout and a leading score of 20-17, the Bomber student section states a chant is saying, "We run kano." Bunz Kano and Run Kano have always been an ongoing saying between the two teams, with Kamiakin starting it off first and Richland following with a "Bunz Kano" and making shirts and stickers. Whenever the Bombers play Kamiakin in any sport, it's always an energetic student section cheering on the Bombers to win. The Bombers led with a score of 24-19,  Kenzie Nealon spiked the ball over, and Kamiakin touched the ball back over to our side, giving the Bombers the last point to win the set 25-19. Senior Kelli Ostboe mentioned how the overall game went "I think the game went well, I think that we all had a lot of fight, and we were very determined, and we wanted to come out with a win" The student section huddles in a group around the players chanting "I believe that we have won!"