EVERETT, Wash. – The Wenatchee Valley College Volleyball team opened the season strong picking up three wins in four games across Friday and Saturday. The Knights defeated Everett CC, Olympic College and Bellevue College. The only setback came to Edmonds CC in the second match on Friday.

WVC began the season with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18) win over Everett CC. The opening set went right down to the wire. With Everett in front 21-18, the Knights reeled off three straight points to even things at 21. With the Trojans at set point at 24-21, WVC made one last push to within 24-23 on a service ace by Gabriella Oliver before the next point went to Everett for the 25-23 first set win.

Trailing 11-10 in set two, the Knights broke it open with a 12-2 run. Poliana Lazarini collected a pair of kills and Mallory Butenschoen spun in two service aces during the run that left WVC holding the 22-13 lead. Lazarini moved the Knights to set point with a service ace and then a Trojans' service error secure the 25-17 second set win for WVC.

Everett roared out to the 9-4 lead in the third set, but WVC came right back. After drawing even at 10, the teams would tie seven more times down the stretch. Sophie Armstrong helped the Knights pull away with a pair of key kills to boost WVC to the 25-23 third set win and 2-1 match lead.

Riding the momentum from a big third set win, WVC jumped in front 14-6 in the fourth set. The Trojans got as close as 19-16, but points from Oliver, Mackenzie Kleyn and Tia Gilday secured the 25-18 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.

Lazarini recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 20 digs. Armstrong added eight kills and hit .412. Mary MacDonald added a .444 hitting percentage with six kills. Oliver tallied five service aces and Jazlynn Torres posted 19 digs.

In the second match on Friday, WVC ran into a tough matchup with Edmonds CC. The Tritons tallied the 3-0 win (25-18, 25-19, 25-13).

Edmonds started strong opening on a 9-1 run. WVC fought back to within five at 21-16, but the Tritons kept the pressure coming closing the set winning four of the final six points for the 25-18 first set win.

WVC moved into position to possibly take the second set, rallying in front at 18-17 following points by Lazarini, Kathleen Velazquez and Armstrong. Edmonds responded in a big win, closing the second set on an 8-1 run for the 25-19 set victory.

After opening the third set with a kill by Armstrong, the Knights struggled to gain any traction from there. Edmonds quickly moved in front 9-3 and never looked back on their way to taking the third set at 25-13 and the 3-0 match victory.

Armstrong led the offense with nine kills and hit .412. Oliver dished out 17 assists. Torres and Butenschoen each tallied double-digit in digs with Torres coming away with 15 and Butenschoen with 11.

Then on Saturday, WVC played dominating volleyball winning six of the seven sets played. The Knights swept Olympic to start the day. Then having to wait until after 7 p.m. to play again, WVC responded with an impressive 3-1 win over Bellevue. Complete stats for both of those games are not yet available. Story will be updated once stats are available.