Pullman volleyball punches ticket to state tourney

Nov. 8—PULLMAN — The referee's whistle had already reverberated off the Pullman High gym walls, but for a moment, the Hounds kept playing, sending the ball back over the net.However, following the official's signal, the Hounds jumped for joy, embraced one another and then collectively fell to their knees as their teammates rushed off the bench to form a "Hound-pile" of sorts.With a 25-12, 25-13, 25-11 sweep of East Valley of Yakima in a Washington Class 2A volleyball crossover encounter, it was official.Pullman had punched its ticket back to the state tournament, qualifying for the fifth straight year and 10th time in the last 11 full seasons."It means so much," said senior libero Lexi Doumit, who paced Pullman with 13 digs and delivered three service aces. "I mean, our team this year is just so incredible. We have bonds like no other, and I love these girls so much, and I'm just so grateful that they're who I got to do it with."Doumit's fellow senior, Camber Wolfe, made 34 assists and the Hounds' freshman phenom, Emaline Gautreaux, racked up 19 kills.Junior middle blockers Ella McNannay and Shayna Singh each totaled three blocks.'The best senior class'The Hounds have reached new heights in 2026.Sweeps in 17 of 20 victories, eight straight sweeps and an unblemished record in best-of-five matches have shaped Pullman's 20-2 volleyball season.The only two losses came in best-of-three tournament play on Sept. 12 to Lakeland of Rathdrum and Lake City of Coeur d'Alene.The secret to all of that success?"This is probably the best group of seniors I've had," seventh-year Pullman coach Megan McNannay said. "They've changed everything about the team culture here. They've made it so welcoming and inviting. I don't think girls are afraid to make mistakes anymore because there's no one rolling their eyes or getting mad at them. It's just 'Hey, next ball, next ball.'"Senior hitter Kitty Keane, McNannay said, "made it her mission" to create a particularly supportive team environment.Keane, who tallied two straight kills to set up Pullman's third-and-final match point, said that she has grown as a leader this season, encouraging her teammates mid-match and throughout practice."We just have so much love for everyone on the team," Keane said of her senior class. "Being so old and mature now, we really can pass on that love to younger people and teach them how to be such encouraging teammates to each other, and just focus on building team love all the time. It's been huge."Megan McNannay said that this senior class's unique leadership style has prompted her to coach this year's group differently, knowing that the team is mature enough to respond to positive reinforcement.Watch the Hounds play, and the results speak for themselves."They're the most kind, positive coaches I've ever had, and they truly just want us to be better all the time," Keane said of McNannay and her assistant coaches. "And they're so inspiring and so it's a mix of kindness and playfulness, but also being serious and working hard and knowing exactly what we can improve on and areas we can get better. They are such incredible coaches and I'm really grateful for them."Digs and swingsThe Hounds opened with authority courtesy of three kills from Gautreaux and two straight aces from Doumit to take a 7-3 lead in Set 1 and usher in East Valley's first timeout.The second stanza featured similar moxie, including three kills from Gautreaux to put Pullman up 7-0 before East Valley once again called a timeout.Throughout the match, Doumit and the Hounds kept giving themselves second chances.To wrap the second set, Doumit scraped for the ball, falling to her back to keep the orb in the air.The two teams traded receives before Wolfe served it up on a platter to Keane, who blasted it to the opposite hardwood to end the set and put Pullman up 2-0."I remember just admiring Lexi's digs," Gautreaux said. "They're so amazing."Gautreaux said that the Hounds are one of the best volleyball teams she has been a part of.The 14-year-old freshman has played a big role in getting the Hounds to where they are. Her fellow Pullman students certainly think so, too, breaking out into chants of "M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P" multiple times throughout the afternoon."Oh, I'm so proud of her, and I'm so happy for her," Doumit said of Gautreaux. "She's done so well, and just coming in as a freshman with those abilities is so impressive. But just seeing the smile on her face and how happy she is on the court just makes me so excited for her."What's the secret to posting almost 20 kills in one afternoon?"I like to swing when I can," Gautreaux said with a smile.That's not to say she can't mix up her shots, McNannay said. Against the tougher competition that Pullman will face next weekend, Gautreaux may match up with the best.On to StateState begins Friday for Washington's 1A and 2A classifications at the Yakima Valley SunDome.McNannay said she hopes Pullman's body of work is enough for a higher seed.This year, Pullman has swept West Valley of Spokane Valley, avenging last year's district tournament championship, and survived a five-set thriller versus Selah, which is also state-bound after beating, coincidentally, West Valley on Saturday.Doumit said Pullman's players are focused on staying together going into the high-pressure state environment."Just relying on our confidence and our love for each other," Doumit said. "If we're gonna do it, we're gonna do it together and we're gonna support each other; we got it if we believe in it enough."Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.