ELLENSBURG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL AND SOCCER DOMINATE TAKING HOMEDISTRICT TITLES

The Ellensburg girls volleyball team met their rivals again the Selah Vikings for the district

championships last week. The Bulldogs dominated through three sets 25-9, 25-23, 25-19.

There was a powerful performance put on by the team, Seniors Hazel Murphy and Alana Marrs

showed out for their last time on home court with 23 and 16 kills.The Stueckle sisters had some

chemistry on the court with a combined 34 assists. Senior Reese Jensen, Sophomore Hadley

Potts, Junior Lydia Simmons and sophomore Kylie Ayling all contributed with a combined 6

kills. The Bulldogs had a total of 47 kills as a team with 106 attempts and 10 errors to end their

district play with 0.349 hitting average.

On the Defensive end for the bulldogs there was 67 digs total, Junior Aubree Roseberry taking

lead with 23 digs, Murphy following closely behind with 11 digs, and Marrs with 10. Jensen,

Simmons, Stueckle sisters and Ayling with a total of 23 digs all together.

It was more than a successful night for the EHS Varsity team. The bulldogs are 16-2 completing

the 2024 season, the bulldogs did not lose a single set to a CWAC opponent. The girls will be

taking home their third straight district championship title. Up next is the 2A State championship

tournament this Friday, Nov 15th at the Yakima Valley Sundome.

The Bulldog Varsity soccer team also put on a performance on the field in order to bring home

the district title. Playing against Prosser High School the Bulldogs came through ending the

game 3-2.

With a turnaround season for the Bulldogs and having to play Prosser previously, they knew how

they must prepare going into the game. Talking to Head coach Jim England, he was able to give

some insight on what preparation would look like “We had played Prosser twice before, losing 6-

0 and 6-1. In the 6-1 game, their striker, #27, scored all six of their goals, so we knew we had to

keep the ball away from her. After watching film, we realized that if we pressed their midfielder,

#10, we could limit her ability to pass to #27 and reduce the space behind us. Leading up to the

game, we focused heavily on pressing in the midfield.”

First half started out strong for the bulldogs as Senior midfielder Derynn Bala scored off a

penalty kick and not long after would Senior forward Jamison Philip score a goal off an assist

from Senior Defender Kylah Seed. Goalkeeper Katie Burton had a total of 4 saves throughout the

game. The Bulldogs dominated the second half with Derynn Bala scoring her second goal of the

game.

Taking home the district title the the EHS Varsity soccer team meant much more than just the

title. After winning only one game last season, they knew they had to come back scoring this

season and they did just that, the bulldogs overall this season was 13-3-3 and conference 7-1.

“As the head coach, seeing the players come together, overcome challenges, and push

themselves has been incredibly rewarding. Every practice, game, and moment has strengthened

us, and the team’s commitment to each other and to our goals has been inspiring. When I first

met with the girls in May, our goals were clear: beat East Valley, beat Prosser, beat Selah, win

league, become district champs, and then aim for state. As we achieved each of these milestones,

the girls began to believe in themselves even more. They’ve really come together as a team,

playing with high intensity, focus, and a true sense of unity—playing for each other.” Head

coach Jim England expressed. Next up for the Bulldogs is the 2A state championship

tournament.