The league has dominated play in recent years in both tournaments; plus seedings and matchups for all Clark County soccer and volleyball teams in state competition this week
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountToday.com
The Class 2A Greater St. Helens League continues to flex its muscles in girls soccer and volleyball, as selection committee members gave the league some high marks.
The 2A and 1A volleyball tournaments start and finish this week in Yakima.
The 4A, 3A, 2A, and 1A girls soccer tournaments also begin this week with first-round matchups.
Here is a look at where Clark County teams are seeded.
VOLLEYBALL
One team from Clark County has won the last three state volleyball titles.
Another team from Clark County had won the previous two state titles.
Both teams faced each other in the championship match in each of the past three seasons.
Well, the seeding committee had other ideas this year.
Columbia River, the three-time defending state champion, earned the 3-seed to the upcoming Class 2A state volleyball tournament.
Ridgfield, meanwhile, was seeded sixth.
That means if both of these teams win in the first round Friday morning at the Yakima Valley SunDome, they will face each other later that day in the quarterfinals.
In other words, the “2A Greater St. Helens League Invitational,” otherwise known as the Class 2A state tournament, will look a lot different this week.
Columbia River will face No. 14 Orting in the opening round at 9 a.m. Friday at the SunDome. Ridgefield will take on No. 11 Nathan Hale, also at 9 a.m. The winners face each other at 4:15 p.m. Friday.
In Class 1A, La Center was voted by the committee as the No. 3 seed. The Wildcats will face No. 14 Zillah in the opening round at 10:45 a.m. Friday at the SunDome.
Seton Catholic is the 15-seed and will take on No. 2 Cascade Christian at 12:45 p.m. Friday.
The Class 4A and 3A state volleyball tournaments are the following week in Yakima.
GIRLS SOCCER
Class 2A: Ridgefield won it all last year, and the selection committee believes the Spudders have what it takes to win it all this year.
Of course, the team that won it all in 2022 might have a say in the matter, too.
The Class 2A state soccer tournament, much like the 2A volleyball tournament in recent years, has been dominated by the 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Ridgefield won the state title last year. Columbia River won it in 2022. Hockinson made the state finals in 2021. And in the year before COVID, all three made the final four, with Columbia River topping Hockinson in the finals.
Ridgefield is the No. 1 seed this season and will host No. 16 Nathan Hale at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round.
Columbia River is the 3-seed and will host No. 14 Kingston. As of Monday morning, the WIAA had not listed a time and date for that matchup.
Hockinson is the 12-seed and will travel to take on No. 5 Bainbridge at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Class 1A: Seton Catholic is having one of the greatest falls in school history. The same day the football team was named the No. 2 seed to state, the volleyball team also was selected as the No. 2 team to the upcoming Class 1A state girls soccer tournament.
Seton Catholic will host No. 15 Kiona-Benton at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round.
King’s Way Christian was selected as the 13-seed and will travel to face No. 4 Cashmere at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Class 4A: Skyview picked up the 3-seed and will host No. 14 Puyallup at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Kiggins Bowl.
Camas is the 11-seed and will travel to face No. 6 Curtis at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The winners will advance to the quarterfinals.
Class 3A: Mountain View is the 17-seed in the 20-team bracket. The Thunder will play No. 17 Mountain View in the opening round, with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16.
CROSS COUNTRY
Cohen Butler of Camas and Jacob McManus of Columbia River were the top individual finishers for Clark County runners in the boys races at this weekend’s state cross country championships in Pasco.
Butler finished fifth in the Class 4A boys race. McManus was fifth in the Class 2A boys race.
In the girls classifications, Eliisa Marshall of Camas took sixth in the 4A girls race. Daphne Evenson of Skyview was seventh in that race.
No team from Clark County finished in the top four.
King’s Way Christian’s Jillian Muntz won the Girls Ambulatory event.
GIRLS SWIMMING
The Girls Swimming and Diving Championships are Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 14-16, at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. For more information: https://www.wiaa.com/tournament-gsw/?sportid=13
Also read:
- Ridgefield to host Division I baseball game between UW Huskies and UP Pilots on April 21
The Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex welcomes two Division I teams this April, offering free entry for local youth players and a rare college matchup in Clark County. - Business Profile: Columbia River volleyball coach teaches The Elite Competitor
Bre Smedley co-founded The Elite Competitor to help young athletes handle the mental demands of sports by offering support, resources, and ongoing training for players, parents, and coaches. - NBA vote clears way for expansion to Seattle
The NBA Board of Governors has voted to explore adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, moving Seattle closer than ever to hosting pro basketball again. - WA Gov. Ferguson to meet with NBA commissioner as hopes rise for Sonics’ return
The meeting this week comes before a vote that could clear the way for the league’s expansion to Seattle Jake Goldstein-StreetWashington State Standard Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday previewed an upcoming meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ahead of a planned vote on league expansion that could bring men’s professional basketball back to Seattle. … - Plenty of NBA connections expected in town Sunday for Vancouver Bears game
Former NBA stars Gary Payton and Robert Pack will coach opposite each other when the SuperHawks visit the undefeated Vancouver Bears in a marquee USBL matchup.
