Payton Douglass, one of three seniors on a young roster, had 58 digs and Amanda Chan added 16 kills as Mead (29-3) outlasted Bellarmine Prep 3-2 in the match for fifth/sixth places at the State 4A volleyball tournament Saturday at Kennewick's Toyota Center. The University of San Diego-bound Douglass had her second match at the tournament with more than 50 digs. The seven-time champion Panthers nearly caught the Lions in the first game after trailing 22-19. The marathon second game was tied from 20 to 31 points until Mead scored the final two. Mead dominated the third game and the Lions answered in the fourth, but the Panthers took charge of the clincher from the start for first-year coach Shawn Wilson. Bellarmine Prep (29-5) won the last three state tournaments.
Scoring
Kills-Chan (Mea) 16. Assists-Absalonson (Mea( 27. Aces-Kassa (Mea) 3, L. Russell (Mea) 3. Digs-Douglass (Mea) 58. Blocks-M. Russell (Mea) 4, Wong (Mea) 4.