Bulldogs Use Blocking Prowess to Defeat Linn-Benton 3-1

PASCO, Wash. — Bellevue overcame a first-set loss to defeat Linn-Benton 3-1 in the third match of the 2025 NWAC Volleyball Championship Elite 8 on Friday night at Columbia Basin College.

The Bulldogs and Roadrunners met up in 2024 in the quarterfinals, when Linn-Benton ended Bellevue's season. This time around, the Bulldogs were on the winning side, advancing to their first Final Four since 2022 when they took third. Both Bellevue and Linn-Benton have been stalwarts in the tournament, each making the Elite 8 every year since the NWAC changed the format to the regional rounds.

Bellevue used its dominant front line to total nine team blocks, finishing with 55 total kills and a .191 hitting percentage. They held the Roadrunners to a .100 hitting percentage for the match.

The first set commenced with Bellevue taking an early lead, highlighted by Mya Hejl's kill assisted by Lucci Unga. The Roadrunners responded strongly, with Mazie Reeser and Lucy Schuller contributing to a sequence that brought the score to a tie at 7-7. Ava Nowak helped Bellevue regain the lead with consecutive points, but service errors hindered their momentum. As the set progressed, Lana Gillas proved pivotal for LBCC, executing decisive kills to extend the lead to 20-15. Despite Bellevue's efforts to narrow the gap, including a late kill by Karisa Martin, Linn-Benton capitalized on attack errors by Bellevue to secure a 25-21 victory in the opening set.

Bellevue secured the second set with a 25-22 victory over LBCC. The set was marked by a back-and-forth exchange of points, with neither team maintaining a large lead. The Bulldogs took advantage of several errors by Linn-Benton, including a crucial attack error by Amy Pappas that ended the set. Martin's consistent performance was pivotal for Bellevue, with her kill from a Lucci Unga assist at 23-22, giving her team the edge. LBCC's attempt to rally was not enough to prevent Bellevue from closing out the set.

Bellevue opened the third set with a strong start, capitalizing on errors by the Roadrunners to take an early 8-2 lead, highlighted by an ace from Mailina Burke. LBCC attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 13-13 after a series of kills and blocks, prompting a Bellevue timeout. Despite this rally, Bellevue regained momentum with critical plays, including a kill by Martin that tied the score at 19-19. The Bulldogs secured the set, 25-23, with Gillian Merhoff delivering the decisive point on a kill from Maile Kuamo'o.

Bellevue secured a decisive victory in the fourth set against LBCC, winning 25-19. The Bulldogs started strong with a 4-0 run, highlighted by two kills from Ava Nowak, both assisted by Lucci Unga. Annabelle Peterson's kill temporarily halted Bellevue's momentum, but the visitors quickly resumed control. Bellevue extended their lead to 15-10, benefiting from several LBCC errors, including two attack errors by Annabelle Peterson. Despite the Roadrunners' efforts to close the gap, the Bulldogs maintained their lead, with Nowak delivering the final two kills to clinch the set and the match.

Hejl demonstrated impressive defensive capabilities for Bellevue with a team-high six total blocks and led the team in scoring with 16 points. Burke showed strong defensive skills as well, contributing 20 digs over four sets, making her a key player in the back row. Unga was instrumental in setting up plays, recording 29 assists without any errors, highlighting her reliability as a setter. Nowak was another standout on defense with 19 digs, while also contributing 14 kills, further showcasing her dual role on the court. Lastly, Olivia Deckard made significant contributions on defense, adding 15 digs to the team's efforts.

Mia Monaghan emerged as a defensive standout for LBCC, leading the team with 20 digs over four sets. Her relentless defense has been crucial in breaking opponents' attacks. Gillas was a key figure on offense, commanding attention with her team-high 19 points, bolstered by an efficient hitting percentage of .387 from 16 kills. Peterson contributed significantly at the net, registering six kills and leading the team with three total blocks, including two solo efforts. Reeser also played a vital role in defense, adding 15 digs to the team's efforts, demonstrating her consistency in crucial moments.

The Bulldogs improve their impressive record to 31-3 overall and move onto the semifinal round, where they will take on South Region champions Rogue on Saturday at 5 p.m.