Quiet Night - By Sawyer Coleman & Charles Johns

    Coming off a huge win against Kamiakin, the Bombers had momentum coming in this Thursday evening's matchup. The Richland Bombers took an elusive late win last night (are now 10-3) against the Kennewick Lions (5-9). It came down to the final 5th set for the Bombers to complete the victory.  

Hannah Williamson with a spike against Kennewick. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook).

    Rolling into the match, it looked to be another easy win for this Bomber volleyball team. After beating the Lions in three straight sets the last time they faced each other, a quick win was in prediction. However, this was not the case. The Kennewick Lions quickly got in the lead and capitalized on the Bomber's mistakes. For the majority of the first set, Lion's front line seemed unstoppable, blocking all the Bomber's offensive advances. The dynamic duo, sophomore Pheobe Bland and junior Emily Kaylor, seemed to be the Bomber's kryptonite during the first set. Both are staggering at 6' tall. They could get up high along the net and provide key blocks that stopped the Richland's attacks at the net. The Bombers started to show a little life toward to end, slowly cutting down the lead. It would not be enough to secure a win, dropping the first set to the Lions. From the stands, a key component of the Bomber's struggle was the lack of communication on the court. Lots of balls would fall between players, causing the Lions to start the match strongly.

The team celebrates winning the first set.  Photo courtesy of Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook).

    Starting the 2nd set off right for the lady Bombers, Montana State Billings commit Kenzie Nealon had an explosive spike, striking the floor with nothing in the way of the ball beside the hardwood. Things were looking up for the Bombers, especially with Kelli Ostboe's lively no-look sets over the net to try and catch the Lion's defense off guard. With a towering front line, the Lions were tough defenders. She would set up to pass to one of the outside hitters but instead give a simple but strategized set over the net, finding a hole in the defense and working multiple times for the Bomber's offense. The Lions were able to make a slow comeback, but they were not able to keep up with the dominant green and gold. Richland would go on to win the second set 25-18.

The team comes together to start a rally against the Lions. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook).

    Kennewick quickly took the lead over the Bombers in the third set. They pulled ahead 9-4, having five straight unanswered points from the Bombers. Although Kennewick was running with momentum, Richland never was worried about being down. Ella Carrick would go to the line to serve, and things changed right away. She would get eight straight points in a row with a couple aces and assists thanks to good passing and court vision. The Lion's coach was on edge as she called a timeout, trying to freeze Ella and her hot streak from the line. Gracie Moss was a key component on the line during the third and fourth sets, absolutely dominating volleyballs over the net. She had some incredible spikes and stops along the line. When asked about Kennewick's front line, Gracie Moss agreed they were tough to compete with and said, "We just dug ourselves in holes." The Richland Bombers would go on to win the third set 25-17. 

    As the momentum of the game had been before, things started off cold on both ends going back and forth between the two teams. Kennewick was able to get a five-point lead on the Bombers, 15-10. The Bomber girls started to play more collectively, producing some competition and making Kennewick really work for the points. Gracie again was dominating the line with some more solid kills to put the Bombers on top 16-15. The Bombers weren't able to finish during the fourth set, and they fell just short of the Lions, 25-21.

Coach Anderson and the Bombers cheer for their victory over Kennewick. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook).

    The fifth set seemed to be the Richland finale of the win Thursday night. Even though the Bombers and the Lions went back and forth throughout the fifth set, Ella Carrick again was dominant on the line and pulled the Bombers ahead for the victory 15-9. The Bombers were able to win 3-2 and took home the hard-fought win. 

Sophia Shoham before a serve at Kennewick. Photo courtesy of Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook).