ELLENSBURG, WA — The Ellensburg High School varsity volleyball team kicked off its 2026 season on a high note Tuesday night, September 8, overcoming a first-set setback to storm back for a 3–1 victory (18–25, 25–16, 25–17, 25–14) over West Valley (Yakima) at home.
Resilient Rally After Slow Start
After dropping the opening set 18–25, the Bulldogs regrouped and found their rhythm. Ellensburg’s attack hit its stride in the middle frames, headlined by a blistering .306 hitting percentage in the third set. Overall, the Bulldogs finished with a solid .208 hitting percentage, converting 44 kills on 125 total attempts. Setters Addison Rounds (16 assists) and Ava Stueckle (13 assists) engineered a balanced, multi-pronged offense that kept West Valley’s defense on its heels.
Dominance at the Net and on the Backline
Hadley Potts put on a masterclass at the net, pacing the team with a match-high 14 kills while anchoring the front-row defense with 7 total blocks (1 solo, 6 assists). She was complemented by Ashley Hill and Kylie Ayling, who hammered home 13 kills apiece to give Ellensburg a triple-threat attack. Mak Summers added critical front-row support with 5 block assists.
Defensively, the Bulldogs turned in a relentless performance, combining for 70 digs and 8 total team blocks. Kylie Aylingstood out as a two-way star, anchoring the backline with a team-high 18 digs while passing 14 reception attempts with just a single error. Addison Rounds recorded a double-double performance by adding 15 digs to her 16 assists, and Allison Alder chipped in 13 digs to keep the defense synchronized.
Match Overview & Leaders
| Category | Match Result / Total | Top EHS Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Set Scores | EHS 3, WV 1 (18–25, 25–16, 25–17, 25–14) | Team Win |
| Kills | 44 (.208 Hitting %) | Hadley Potts (14) |
| Assists | 29 Team Assists | Addison Rounds (16) |
| Digs | 70 Team Digs | Kylie Ayling (18) |
| Blocks | 8 Team Blocks | Hadley Potts (7 total) |
Key Defensive Performance:
- Passing Efficiency: Kylie Ayling stabilized serve-receive with 14 receptions and only 1 error.
Looking Ahead
Overcoming 14 early reception errors to win three unanswered sets demonstrates the poise and depth of this 2026 Bulldog squad. Ellensburg will look to carry this early-season momentum forward as non-conference and league play heat up over the coming weeks.