Fourth title makes CBSS hungry for fifth

MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Secondary School has captured another state volleyball championship - the fourth in five years.

The co-ed volleyball team plays other secondary schools and the Columbia Basin Job Corps team during the course of the their season and went an undefeated 9-0 before heading to state.

The WALA (Washington Association for Learning Alternatives) State Volleyball Championship is held in Lakewood each fall and is a double-elimination tournament featuring teams from across Washington state.

"The team is year-by-year but all of our starters from this year are returning, so we should be loaded for next year," said coach Lanny Ledeboer. "Theoretically, we should be better next year."

CBSS upset the hometown favorite, AI, to take the title after going undefeated through the tournament.

"It feels great (to win)," said player Yesenia Rojas. "I'm hoping to make myself a better player for next year. I'd like to thank Mr. Ledeboer and Greg (Haglund) for being the best coaches ever for volleyball."

The team is made up of students attending CBSS, including: Bobby Hughes, Marcos Essex, Kiefer Larson, Jose Zepeda, Gricelda Vargas, Rojas, Krysta Mende, Dee Anna Villareal, Christine Turner, Yolanda Valencia, Jackie Prater, Ashleigh Huffman, Austin Buchmann, Taylor Stillwaugh, Jacob Pattan, Devon Mentzos, Zach Schmidt, Synthia Pruneda, Caitlin Davis and Brittany Hendrickson and is coached by Lededboer and Greg Haglund.