It was a last, but also a first for longtime Woodland volleyball coach Jeff Nesbitt.
In his final home match of a 31-year career, Nesbitt’s team notched its first win over regional volleyball power Columbia River.
Kayla Fredricks had 9 kills and 24 digs as the Beavers won in four sets (29-27, 25-20, 12-25 25-20).
The Beavers had faced River over the years at tournaments, but had never beaten the Chieftains. Now with both in the 2A Greater St. Helens League, Woodland (8-3) pulled within one game of the second-place Chieftains (8-2).
“If anything, it shows that we can not just play well against good teams and come close, but actually beat them,” Nebsitt said.
Nesbitt’s youngest daughter, Elle, is a senior on the team. On Thursday’s senior night, Nesbitt and about 35 friends and family soaked in the special occasion for both the coach and his daughter.
“We all had a special night,” he said. “I got to be a coach and a parent. I wanted to soak in the whole occasion.”
Boys golf
The Columbia River boys golf team had four golfers in the top eight as the Chieftains captured the 2A district tournament.
River easily outdistanced Tumwater 206-120.5 behind Jacob Larson (second, 150), Joe Beuselinck (fourth, 153), Kyle Gomez (fourth, 153) and Spencer Long (eighth, 155).
Will Alexander of W.F. West won the individual title with a 147.
Stars of the day
• Mallory Hylton, Hockinson volleyball, celebrated her 18th birthday with 26 assists, 5 kills, 4 aces, and 12 digs in a win over R.A. Long.
• Serena Bartley, Ridgefield volleyball, had 25 kills in a win over Mark Morris as the Spudders improved to 10-1 in 2A GSHL play.
• Trinity Paulsen, Hockinson soccer, had the only goal of the match in a win over R.A. Long.
• Zoe McBride, Prairie volleyball, had 18 kills and 15 digs in a win over Mountain View.
• Sarah Davidson, Camas soccer, had a first-half goal and a second-half assist in a 3-0 win over Union. The Papermakers remained undefeated on the season.
• Silas Griffith, Ridgefield boys cross country, won the 2A Greater St. Helens League meet in 15:49 to lead the Spudders to a team win.
• Lexie Rutherford, Ridgefield girls cross country, won the 2A GSHL meet in 19:49 to lead the Spudders to a team win.
• Kayla Bryan and Aimee Kurfurst, Prairie soccer: Bryan scored off an assist from Kurfurst with about four minutes left, giving the Falcons a 2-1 win over Evergreen.
• Maddie Stimmel and Laynie Erickson, La Center volleyball, each had 18 digs and combined for 29 kills and nine blocks in a sweep of King’s Way Christian.
• Teague Schroeder, Camas volleyball, had six kills and two blocks as part of a balanced attack for the Papermakers in a sweep over Union.
• Sally Houk, Skyview girls soccer, scored twofirst-half goals in a 3-2 win over Battle Ground.
• Elise Schey, King’s Way Christian girls soccer, scored twice in a 5-0 win over Columbia-White Salmon.
