Richland Volleyball is Swept by Kamiakin - By Mackenzie Thonney
On the night of September 18th, your local Richland Bombers took on the cross-town rivals in red. The Kamiakin Braves. Despite the Bombers' slow start to the season with a record of 1 win and 3 losses, these girls, led by coach Valarie Anderson, showed up with incredible fight. The air was tense, and the bleachers were packed as the crowd witnessed this hard-fought battle. Surely your home team in green did not make it easy for their visitors. Every point was seriously earned, although when the dust settled at the end of the night, it was regrettable as the bombers watched the Braves walk away with the win.
Before the game began, I quickly spoke with the Bombers' outstanding athletic trainer, Dawn Morales. As she is a regular at these season games and has a unique inside scoop of the players and atmosphere, I asked her what her favorite part about being a part of the bomber community was. “The tradition and the culture. You see so many people who aren't connected to volleyball in any way but still come just to be a part of the bomber community” (Dawn Morales) was her undeniable response as we watched the diverse crowds roll through the open doors.
And the game is on! The opening set featured nonstop intensity, with both teams trading strong rallies. Kamiakin’s Avery Beck set the tone early with an impeccable diving save that kept the rally alive and stunned the Bomber crowd. The Braves built on that momentum with Alexa Bilodeau using her 5’10 frame to deliver an unexpected block that Richland couldn’t quite recover from.
Richland didn't give up, though. They answered with flashes of undeniable talent and hard work. Freshman Teresa Savani stood out early in this match, holding bomber territory as she recovered a deep spike from the back row to save a point and keep her team alive. Not to mention the unrelated sisterhood of Senior Kelbie Bowles and Junior Cara Harrington, as they jointly shut down the Kamiakin efforts to return the ball over the net. “Teamwork makes a dream work,” as they say. Although the dream worked for that point and of course several others, the team's efforts were noticeable, but it wasn't quite enough. The Braves rode their early rhythm to close out the set 25–17.
An important staff member, Principal Mitch Davis, was in the audience that night. I requested his thoughts on the Bombers' mentality and how he thought the green and gold varsity players on the court represent that. “They always compete hard week in and week out. I never see them give in. And we see that in every Bomber squad.”(Principal Davis) Davis's answer was truly reliable as we witnessed the grit of each Bomber player throughout the hard-fought battle.
The second set provided one of the most memorable rallies of the night. Back and forth the ball flew across the net, with Richland Senior libero Jocelyn Gaca making multiple saves to keep Richland alive. Finally, middle blocker Eva Pines in green camo came up big with a stuff block that sent the gym into cheers and secured the point for the Bombers.
Fueled by that play, Richland surged with three straight points, tightening the score and putting pressure on the Braves. The energy from the home crowd was undeniable. Still, Kamiakin maintained its composure and pulled away to secure a comfortable 25–16 win and a 2–0 match lead.
The Bombers entered into the third set and refused to go quietly. Just before her substitution, Junior Ally Haley sparked momentum with a powerful ace that had the student section roaring. Needless to say, that moment was not unnoticed. Moments later, Bowles made her mark once again, first capitalizing on a perfectly placed overpass for a point, then delivering back-to-back blocks that stunned the Braves’ attack.
Richland showed flashes of dominance and plenty of grit, but Kamiakin ultimately closed the door with steady offense, finishing the set and owning the match 3-0.
Though the final tally favored the Braves, the night reminded everyone what Bomber volleyball is about -grit, resilience, and the pride of playing in front of a loyal community. The rivalry runs deeper than wins and losses, and Richland proved once again that its fight never fades. The Bombers did not necessarily leave with just a loss, either. They left with their heads high and the intention to grow. The Braves may have gotten away this time, but the lady bombers are hungrier than ever and will refuse to let off.
