Green's hot hand lifts Tritons to Elite 8

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — It didn't come easy, but Edmonds (34-1, 12-0) edged Lower Columbia (15-10, 10-2) in a tight five-set match at Seaview Gym on Sunday, with scores of 27-25, 18-25, 25-27, 25-20, and 15-9. Edmonds secured the victory with a hitting percentage of .176 and tallied 108 digs, while Lower Columbia managed a .146 hitting percentage and recorded 96 digs.

Edmonds opened the first set with solid offensive plays, capitalizing on an attack error by Lower Columbia to take an early lead. A series of successful plays, including kills by Meredith Moszeter and Haley Yost, helped Edmonds establish a mid-set advantage. Millea McMurry's service ace and key assists contributed to a run that extended their lead to 6-3.

Lower Columbia narrowed the gap with a sequence of points, but the Tritons responded with precise attacks, including kills from Kaydence Green. Despite a late surge from the Red Devils, marked by a series of service aces, Edmonds managed to regain control. The set concluded with Edmonds clinching it 27-25, following a decisive kill by Yost and a final attack error from Lower Columbia.

Edmonds started the second set with a defensive stand, as Olivia Miller blocked an attack by Claire Neuman to secure the first point. After trading points with Lower Columbia, Edmonds capitalized on errors by the Red Devils to take a brief lead. Key contributions from Yost and Lizzie Takau helped maintain momentum, with Yost delivering a kill and Takau assisting in a block that tied the score at 7-7.

Lower Columbia regained control with a series of kills and service aces, building a lead despite the Tritons' efforts. While Yost and Abby Barrow combined effectively for multiple points, Edmonds was unable to sustain a consistent run. As the set progressed, Lower Columbia extended their advantage, capitalizing on a sequence of successful plays to finish the set ahead 25-18.

The third set began with a back-and-forth exchange of points, highlighted by service errors from both teams that kept the score tight. Edmonds managed to level the score multiple times, with key kills from Olivia Miller and Moszeter keeping the momentum alive. As the set progressed, Kamaleimahie Auwae and Malique Sweet contributed crucial kills to tie the score at 22-22.

Despite the efforts of Edmonds, including a late kill from Green that brought the score to 25-25, Lower Columbia edged ahead with decisive plays. A kill by Chesney Schultz and a block by Karissa Otterstetter concluded the closely contested set. The set closed with Lower Columbia narrowly claiming it 27-25.

Edmonds began the fourth set with a service error but quickly gained momentum through strategic plays. Moszeter and Yost contributed with key kills, enabling the Tritons to seize a narrow lead. As the set progressed, Edmonds extended their advantage with a series of kills by Sweet and Green, pushing the score to 10-6.

Lower Columbia responded with a sequence of points, capitalizing on a few attack errors by Edmonds to level the score at 10-10. However, Edmonds regained control as Green delivered consistent offensive pressure, and Barrow's service ace further widened the gap. With the scoreboard reading 22-20, a final push by Green and a block from Yost sealed the set for the Tritons with a 25-20 victory.

Edmonds started the fifth set with decisive scoring from Green, who delivered two kills early in the set, contributing to a narrow 3-2 lead. The team then extended their advantage as Yost capitalized on assists from Barrow and Alondra Zambrano, pushing the score to 5-3 after a series of exchanges.

Edmonds continued to build momentum with a series of successful plays, including a block by Green and Moszeter and a kill by Sweet, widening the gap to 8-4. Despite a service error, Edmonds regained control through consistent attacks, with Moszeter and Auwae securing points, maintaining a 10-7 lead.

As the set progressed, Miller and Yost added key kills, and a critical error by Lower Columbia pushed Edmonds to a 14-8 advantage. The Red Devils managed one last point before Yost sealed the set and match with another kill, concluding the set with a 15-9 victory for the Tritons.

During the match sophomore Abby Barrow passed the 1,000 career assists mark. After struggling a bit early, Kaydence Green took over the match in sets four and five -- the freshman opposite surged late, notching many of her 15 kills in the most pivotal moments.

The Tritons have punched their ticket to the Elite 8 and will await the No. 2 seed from the South-hosted Super Regional at Columbia Basin College. The opening game of the single elimination tournament is set for Friday, November 21 at 11 a.m. in Pasco.