King’s Way volleyball team disqualified from state

The King’s Way Christian volleyball team has been ruled ineligible to compete in this week’s Class 1B state volleyball tournament after it was learned the team played more than the maximum number of matches allowed during the regular season.

The Knights, who beat cross-town rival Seton Catholic in the district championship Saturday in Adna, had earned the top seed from the district to the state tournament, which begins Friday in Yakima.

Instead, Seton Catholic was moved into the top seed, the spot vacated by King’s Way. Lake Quinault moved from No. 3 to No. 2, and Three Rivers Christian of Kelso took the final berth to state from District 4. Three Rivers thought its season ended with a loss to Lake Quinault on Saturday in the district tournament third-place match.

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules governing volleyball say teams can play up to 16 matches per season, plus a jamboree.

“An extra game was mistakenly added to the calender, and District 4 exercised (its) authority to remove (King’s Way) from the state tournament,” said Luke Gillock, the athletic director at King’s Way, through a press release Tuesday evening. “An appeal was made to both the district board and subsequently the WIAA Executive Board and both governing bodies ruled in favor of upholding District 4’s decision.

“King’s Way respectfully submits to and supports the WIAA decision. We would like to wish our fellow Columbia Valley League teams the best of luck in Yakima.”

A call to the WIAA was not returned Tuesday.