WARDEN — The Warden volleyball team will have a tougher season this year to prepare for the challenging games they plan on competing in during playoffs, then eventually state, according to Warden volleyball Head Coach Shanna Golladay.

“I think they should expect the unexpected from us,” said Reagan Golladay, one of the team’s three captains.  

Last season Warden started off strong winning ten games against Cle Elum-Roslyn, Mabton, East Valley (Yakima), Walla Walla Valley Academy (twice), Wahluke, Columbia (Burbank), Quincy, Prosser and Connell. The girls then lost to River View 3-1. However, they rebounded with four wins against Tri-Cities Prep twice, Columbia and Tonasket, all ending with a 3-0 score. The girls then lost to River View again, 3-1.  

“Our schedule is tougher than last year, which was planned on purpose,” Shanna Golladay said. “Some of our non-league games were weak and then when we made it to the postseason and we had the pressure, we didn’t do as well. So, I want to make sure our girls are being challenged.”

The Cougars then made it to the playoffs. The team had a 3-0 win against Kittitas. Then they lost to Goldendale 3-1. They came back and beat Granger 3-1 before losing to Walla Walla Valley in the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference district tournament’s third/fourth-place match.  

Despite ending the district tournament with a loss, the Cougars still qualified for the 2B State Volleyball Tournament. After falling to the eventual state champion Adna Pirates in the first round, the team then beat River View for the first time all season in the playoffs with a 3-0 game. Then, they lost to Goldendale.  

“For the most part we were top of the league,” Coach Shanna Golladay said. “Last year we had a really good season, but I think we might be even better this year.”  

The team will have three senior captains this year: Reagan Golladay, Lauren Chamberlain and Genesis Ozuna, which Shanna Golladay said she is very excited for.  

“This is the first year where I have been able to confidently be able to pick captains for the team where they are respected and good for the team,” Shanna Golladay said. “It just hasn’t been the right chemistry in years past. I am also going to be giving them some leadership responsibilities. These captains will also tell the girls what to do.” 

All three girls have been playing volleyball for eight or more years and all three said they have strong on-court chemistry. 

“I think we work really well together,” Chamberlain said. “We're all like really good friends, and we've also grown up our whole lives together, so that helps. I feel like we all have different personalities, and they all happen to go well together.” 

The team this year is going to be like last year, according to coach Shanna Golladay. They lost four seniors, but they have three starters coming back. There are also a handful of girls on club teams that play volleyball year-round.  

“I love all these girls, this team. I am proud of this team and what we can accomplish,” Shanna Golladay said.  

The three captains and the coach are the most excited for the River View game. Last year, that was the only team the girls lost to twice, which resulted in them losing the league champion title. 

“They're just like every school has a rival, and I would say just for volleyball, River View is that rival. And there's just something about when we know we play River View and we just want to beat them so badly,” Reagan Golladay said. “It's a harder loss when we lose, but it's a really good win when we do. So, I'm really and they have a new team this year too. I'm excited to play them.” 

    The Cougars compete at the 2B State Volleyball Tournament in Yakima last season.