The Central Kitsap volleyball team’s return to the Yakima Valley Sundome was short-lived, the Cougars losing both its day one matches to close their season shy of a top eight finish in state.

The No. 7 seeded Cougars appeared cool and confident with a 21-17 first-set lead over No. 10 White River, but the pesky Hornets worked back to a 21-21 tie. Again CK pulled away to a 24-21 advantage, but coach Katie Pasi’s girls would need every match point they could get to win 25-23.

CK wouldn’t lead again, White River pulling away to win three straight 25-15, 25-16 and 25-7.

The Cougars managed to put up a fight in each of their three sets vs. their consolation opponent No. 15 Bellevue, but even with a four-point advantage late in the third set, they were unable to recover from that first-round defeat. In the end, it was the Wolverines who would take victory 25-22, 25-20 and 26-24.

Pasi’s girls finished the 2024 season with an 18-8 record, going 13-3 in their first year playing out of the newly formed 3A Puget Sound League, and finishing as the District 3 runner-up.