On the volleyball court, Evi and Esti have ESP.
In a sport of constant motion, the Wilson twins always know where each other is.
More importantly, they know where each other is going.
That sort of extra-sensory perception helped Columbia River finish fourth at last year’s Class 3A state tournament.
Now juniors, the Wilsons have their team shooting even higher this season.
“We just want to keep improving, so anything less than fourth would be a disappointment,” Evi Wilson said. “It’s super important to work on the little things because that’s what’s going to make the big things happen.”
Both sisters, especially Evi, have already accomplished big things locally.
Evi is the reigning Class 3A Greater St. Helens League MVP. Last season, the outside hitter had 402 kills and was among nine players named to the all-tournament team at state.
Esti was first-team all-league with a team-high 175 digs.
But both wouldn’t be where they are without each other.
“Growing up together and being twins, you have that unspoken connection,” River coach Kaitlin Johnson said. “You know what the other person is thinking before they say it. It’s huge on the court, especially if it’s loud in the gym.”
Among the loudest gyms Columbia River has visited is St. Martin’s College, site of the state tournament in Lacey.
Last November, the Chieftains excelled in that den of din, where three matches often take place simultaneously.
“Our team does a good job of knowing where they’re supposed to be at the time they’re supposed to be there,” Johnson said. “They work in unison based on where the ball is. Player to player, you have to have that trust that they’re going to do their job and I’m going to do mine.”
Volleyball was not always the primary sport in the Wilson household. Both played soccer, but started focusing on volleyball in the seventh grade.
They credit their coach at the time, Jeff Nesbitt, for making volleyball a sport they wanted to pursue.
“We both realized that volleyball was just a lot more fun (than soccer), at least to us,” Evi Wilson said.
Before long, a volleyball net was in the family’s backyard. The sisters would spend free moments hitting to each other.
“If they don’t expect it, it catches them off guard,” she said. “I can get a couple of quick kills right away.”
Columbia River has already faced some of the top contenders for state trophies this season. They reached the semifinals of the Kent Classic on Sept. 20 beating Camas, ranked No. 4 in the Seattle Times Class 4A poll.
The Chieftains, No. 5 in the Times’ 3A poll, will also face tough competition at the Spokane Crossover on Oct. 4.