Story Photos
 Photo by Bill Wagner Toutle Lake's Denali Preston taps the ball down on the Mules during the third game Tuesday. |
Ducks dig out a key win
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 7:53 AM PDT
By Ben Zimmerman
Printable version
E-mail this articleTOUTLE ---- Denali Preston wasn't ashamed to show the Senior Night crowd packed into Toutle's sweltering gymnasium Tuesday that there is crying in volleyball.
"It was just such a huge night," said Preston, a four-year starter and the catalyst of an almost unbelievable Ducks comeback. "I'm just really proud of everyone. We have heart. You have to in volleyball. You have to have passion for the game, and we showed it."
Preston's postgame tears were part joy, part pride ---- and part sheer exhaustion. In a battle of Central 2B League unbeatens, she helped will Toutle Lake to a 10-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 15-10 victory over rival Wahkiakum that clinched the Ducks at least a share of their fourth consecutive league title.
Toutle (10-3, 7-0 league) will have the championship all to itself if it wins at Napavine on Thursday. But it will be hard to top the excitement of Tuesday's thriller.
"It was unbelievable. You had to be here. I know I'll always remember it," Preston said. "It was one to see."
The Mules, who have resurrected their program from league doormat to title contender under first-year coach Patty Anderson, seized control of the match with a near-flawless romp in Game 1 and a fearless comeback of their own in Game 2.
But as the Ducks gathered their wits and cranked up their defensive intensity, Wahkiakum (11-2, 6-1) could not hold on. The Mules' last real grip on the match came midway through the third game, when they built leads of 11-8 and 13-11.
The pendulum began to swing during a 6-0 Toutle run that included three kills from Preston.
"We're such a strong team, physically, but we're still working on our mental toughness," Anderson said. "When we get a little stronger upstairs, we'll win matches like this. But think of where they've come from. It has been a long road. This was a good match to go into district with."
Toutle started to take control in Game 3 with some help from Wahkiakum, which committed six service errors. The Ducks took a 23-20 lead on another Preston kill ---- 12 of her 18 kills came over the final three games ---- and won when the Mules hit back-to-back shots into the net.
Toutle players felt that the comeback actually began in the second game, when the excitement of Senior Night, a larger-than-usual crowd and the introduction of the homecoming court started to wear off. The Ducks squandered a 24-21 lead in the game, as a Whitley Wirkkala kill and Shelby Deaton block helped propel Wahkiakum on a 5-0 run to clinch the win. But Toutle found a groove after committing 18 errors or violations in the first game.
"Having a lead in that second game sort of pushed us," Preston said.
"I thought that after the first game, our nerves got settled," Toutle coach Don Merzoian added. "Maybe the intensity of the environment threw us off. We certainly got a peek at what can happen if we don't play our game."
The Ducks put it together in Game 3, then dominated the fourth game. Toutle senior Taylor Beck's kill started a 12-4 surge midway through that was interrupted by a few mis-hits from the home team, but signaled that the Ducks were in control. The burst included four kills by Tiffany Wend and two by Preston, including the 25th point.
The signature Preston moment came in Game 5. A kill by Wahkiakum's Brandi Arness had given the Mules a 9-7 lead, but a hitting error followed by kills from senior Janae Wall, Preston and Wall again put Toutle ahead 11-9.
With Preston serving, Wahkiakum mustered a powerful kill attempt that was deflected toward the far bleachers. Preston raced over and bumped the ball back into play while falling into the laps of students sitting in the front row.
Wall pounded a kill off of Hayley Gorton's ensuing set to make it 12-9, bringing the home crowd to its feet.
"She's our inspiration," Wall said of Preston. "She keeps us up."
"Denali just took the match into her hands tonight," Anderson added. "She doesn't like to lose, and she made sure they didn't."
Preston's no-look quick-set landed just inside the sideline for the 13th point, and Beck ripped her sixth kill for No. 14.
Wahkiakum spiked a shot wide for match point.
"I didn't see it going this way," said Merzoian. "Maybe our team will realize what they can do when they work hard."
And as for Preston?
"This was important to her," he said. "She had the will to pick us up and carry us. She loves the game."
With the tears to prove it.
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