Class 4A volleyball: Kentlake completes three-peat

SPOKANE — Teri Farnsworth waited two years to take center stage in the Class 4A state volleyball championships.

Then the Kentlake senior stole the show.

Farnsworth, the only starter on this team who wasn't on the Spokane Arena floor last year when the Falcons won their second straight title, acted like she owned the place last night. She racked up a career-high 16 kills as Kentlake beat Puyallup 15-10, 15-7 to become only the second team in the big-school classification to capture three consecutive championships.

"They say great players step up in big matches, and she did just that," said setter Courtney Thompson, one of Kentlake's four three-year starters. "She was incredible."

Last year, Farnsworth was invisible, a bench player who had to wait her turn.

"I've been waiting to get my chance to show, and I got it," she said.

And, in the process, the Falcons (42-1) got some revenge. Puyallup had ended their state-record 91-match winning streak six days earlier, in the semifinals of the West Central 4A District tournament, and players talked all week about wanting to have the last word. They spoke loud and clear to finish 4-1 this season against the Vikings, who had jumped to No. 1 in the final state coaches' poll.

"Those girls deserve it; they work so hard," said Puyallup's Steve Mussie, who plays club volleyball with many of them.

Kentlake joined Renton (1980-82) as the only team to three-peat in the big-school classification. Thompson, who signed with the University of Washington on Wednesday, left the court with 171 assists in her final six matches and a feeling of total satisfaction.

"I feel finished now," she said. "Before, there was always one more year or two more years. Now, we've done all we can do, and it feels great."

It was a great way for Farnsworth to go out if she decides not to play volleyball at the next level, which she said is very possible.

"I just wanted to cherish it and not have any regrets at all," she said after finishing the tournament with 46 kills, three blocks and 42 digs.

Cameron Flunder, Pasley and Lutes — the other three-year starters with Thompson — enjoyed an outstanding two days as well. Flunder's line: 60 kills, seven blocks, seven aces, 41 digs. Pasley added 52 kills, three blocks, nine aces and 50 digs, while Lutes chipped in 36 kills and 66 digs.

It's been an incredible three-year run for the quartet, which leaves with a 117-5 record, 81-1 over the past two seasons.

For Puyallup, 6-foot-2 junior Christal Morrison — a member of the junior national team — amassed 88 kills, including 12 in the championship match, and 10 blocks. Mussie, who will play at the University of Pacific, compiled 50 kills (11 in the final) and six blocks. Setter Stephanie Olson totaled 138 assists.

The Vikings, who lost the 1999 final to Mead and are still looking for their first title, finish the season 35-5. Four of those losses came against Kentlake and the other to No. 3 Lewis & Clark, the team they beat in yesterday's semifinals.

Kentlake reached the championship match with victories over No. 9 Marysville-Pilchuck in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Olympia in the semifinals.

The Tomahawks threatened to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament by beating Kentlake 15-12 in the first game of the day. But the Falcons quickly returned to form and swept the next two games handily, 15-4, 15-5. Olympia couldn't stay with Kentlake long in the semifinals, either, falling 15-6, 15-9.

Puyallup started with a 15-8, 15-3 win over No. 7 Bothell, then survived an intense battle with Lewis & Clark, 15-12, 15-11, to set up the championship showdown both teams had dreamed about all week.