Submitted photo – The Ferndale girls celebrate their tournament win at Hoopa on Saturday.

It was a busy but successful day for the Ferndale Wildcats on the volleyball court on Saturday.

While the school’s football team was playing in a thrilling Milk Can game in front of a packed house at Coach Carlson Wildcat Field, the Ferndale girl traveled to Hoopa to compete in the Warriors tournament.

And they won all five of their games on the way to the tournament championship, as they continue to build some momentum before beginning league play.

“I was extremely proud of my girls,” Ferndale head coach Jessi Grant said of her players, who had to play three consecutive games with no real break between them at one stage. “They kept strong, they really dug deep and they worked hard.

“They were exhausted, but they kept pushing through and playing well as a team.”

That perseverance paid off with three wins against varsity teams in pool play and two more in the playoff rounds, including a three-set win over the Hoopa JVs in the final.

The Cats rallied to win that game 20-25, 25-12, 15-10.

Clara Albee was particularly influential on the way to the championship and played every minute of every game.

“She didn’t want a break,” the coach said of the team’s starting setter. “She hustled her butt off.”

Albee finished with five tips, five saves and 10 assists in the final.

Saige Machado also had a big day for the Cats and also played every minute of every game.

The inspirational middle blocker finished with five kills, five aces, two blocks, two saves and eight tips in the final.

Amaya Mattews also impressed at middle blocker and added three kills and three saves in the championship decider.

“She worked the net and was dominant all day long,” the coach said of Mattews. 

One of the team’s most impressive and improved players this season is Yajaira Cantu-Mendez, who continued to shine at Hoopa and added four aces and three saves in the decider.

“I’m so proud of her,” Grant said of Cantu-Mendez. “Yajaira has come so far from the end of last season to this season. She really was playing smart.

“Overall, I was really proud of my girls. I really like how they’re working as a team.”

The Cats will open league play at home against St. Bernard’s on Tuesday.

Submitted photo – The Hoopa JVs placed second at Saturday’s Warriors tournament.