Puyallup volleyball continues run through 4A SPSL with four-set win over Curtis
The Puyallup High School volleyball team wrapped up its fourth consecutive 4A SPSL division title on Monday night. As celebratory an occasion as it was, the home-standing Vikings felt like they have bigger things to accomplish over the next month or so.
“We felt like, two years ago we had that team so set up for an amazing season, and we have that disappointment in districts,” Puyallup coach Alli Schumacher said. “Then last year, we go undefeated all season then can’t get it done in the (state) semifinals. It feels like it’s destined to happen. Now it’s like, how can we get any more hungry. It’s that mindset.”
Puyallup looked hungry from the start against division nemesis Curtis, racing away with the first set of the match, 25-16, before the 4A SPSL showdown settled into an eventual four-set battle. Curtis roared back to take Set 2, 25-14, but Puyallup closed it out with 25-15 and 25-21 set wins.
After an early-season loss, Puyallup now has reeled off 16 wins in a row and is 10-0 in league play. Curtis (11-3, 7-3) came into this one looking to extend the division race into the final two weeks of the regular season.
But the loss dropped the visiting Vikings three back of Puyallup with just three matches left to play for each squad. Since Puyallup already has played and beaten Curtis in both of the teams’ league meetings this season, even if Puyallup were to lose all three of its remaining matches, it still has the head-to-head tie breaker on Curtis.
“Not with our girls,” Schumacher said. “Our girls have such a competitive mindset that we get up for every single match, no matter who our opponent is.”
Against the outside duo of Avery Cukjati and Kathryn Harris, both of whom had consistent performances on Monday, Puyallup countered with a diverse attack. Cukjati had 15 kills and two service aces while Harris contributed 12 kills and three aces of her own.
Across the net, there as always in the middle was Dani Brown for Puyallup. Brown had eight kills, four blocks, and three aces to pace the home Vikings.
“We play all these games and it’s like leading up to winning our league,” Brown said. “It feels really good that all of our work paid off.”
At least it has for the first step — the 4A SPSL division title. There are even bigger goals ahead.
Puyallup likely will see both Olympia, the South Division leader, and Curtis during the district tournament and perhaps even the state tournament in a few weeks. The Vikings have beaten the Bears all three times they’ve seen them this fall (once in league, once in nonleague and another in a tournament) to go along with those two victories over Curtis.
“We were so close last year,” Brown said. “We were right there and we just couldn’t pull through. We have another shot this year and I really hope we can pull through this year and get the title.”
Puyallup appears to have the talent to do it. Six different Vikings recorded kills against Curtis as Puyallup spread the offense around. The Vikings ability to spread the ball around makes them a tough matchup for anyone in the state.
Whether that translates to the ultimate goal finally, that’s what Puyallup has to prove.
“I want to say yes, but we know anything can happen,” Schumacher said. “We’ve been undefeated and had that heartbreak loss. All the girls have the same goal in mind and we are just so determined to accomplish our goals this season.”