With a big crowd on hand in “The Loghouse,” Eureka volleyball celebrated a stellar senior class in the best way possible on Tuesday night.
The six seniors, who helped lead the program to a first league title in seven years last season, were honored before the team’s penultimate league game against McKinleyville and would then lead the team to an important straight sets win over the Panthers to move them within one win of at least a co-championship this year.
With the victory, the Loggers improved to 6-1 in league play (25-6 overall) with one game remaining at Fortuna next Tuesday, and they remain one win ahead of the Arcata Tigers, who are 5- 1 in league play with two games remaining.
And all six seniors contributed to the win.
“It was such a special night honoring our six seniors,” Eureka head coach Stephanie Napoleon said. “We had a huge crowd of friends, family and student section, ‘The Loghouse.’”
The class of seniors, which includes Alena Battle, Tiarah Maualuga, Violla Kingsang, Eddy Hale, Makenzie Wolff and Savanhie Panhsavang, certainly have left their mark on the program, and Eureka fans are hoping they’re not done doing so just yet.
“This group of seniors is truly an amazing group,” Napoleon said. “Each one of them is dedicated to this team and they are so kind and supportive to each other.
“They are absolutely going to be missed but have set the example of what it means to be a Logger. I couldn’t be more proud of them and know they will do great things after high school.”
Maualuga, who is the reigning league MVP, continued to set a high standard and finished the night with 11 kills, six aces, six digs and a block, while Battle, who has been equally impressive this fall, added 10 kills, an ace and a block.
Kingsang also impressed and finished with 12 assists, seven digs, an ace and a kill, while Wolff added nine digs, two kills, two aces and an assist, Phansavang had seven digs and two aces, and Hale chipped in 12 digs and two kills.
Junior Ramona Dusel also had a good night for the home team and finished with 13 assists, seven digs, two kills and an ace.
With the loss, McKinleyville dropped to 1-5 in league play.
The Eureka JV freshmen also won their game against McKinleyville on Tuesday night, while the McKinleyville JVs are victorious for the visitors.
