CHELAN — The Ephrata Tigers learned firsthand Thursday night why Chelan has dominated Class 1A volleyball for half a decade, getting swept 25-7, 25-11, 25-12 by the perennial state champions.

Winners of five consecutive state titles, the Lady Mountain Goats showcased the versatility and dominance that has made them queens of the (volleyball) court, controlling the match from the opening serve.

When asked how the team prepared for the difficulty in its first week of competition, Tigers coach Britney MacLeod said, “We knew walking into these matches this week we would be up against big programs, and our goal was to find ways to move forward together and to always hustle.”

MacLeod said the team met that goal. “Both matches we came up with some big hustle plays. We need to string everything together. Big momentum killers for us were passing errors then hitting errors,” she said.

The first set established the tone immediately as Chelan's barrage of attacks, serving, and net play overwhelmed the Tigers. Ephrata struggled with violations and miscues, managing just seven points as the Mountain Goats demonstrated the execution they have become known for. Still, Ephrata's defensive effort showed promise at times with several impressive digs from defensive specialist Faith Rodriguez in the back row.

Missed serves and errant passing continued in the second set, impairing Tiger efforts to find an offensive rhythm. They showed slightly better pacing midway, trailing 11-5, but couldn't sustain momentum against Chelan's relentless attack from all positions.

The Tigers' best moments came early in the third set when they took a 4-3 lead and continued showing defensive intensity. However, Chelan's significant height advantage at the net proved insurmountable, with their blocking stifling Ephrata's hitting attempts.

Izzlee Haney provided bright spots for the Tigers with strategic touches that caught Chelan off guard, while Alexis Chornuk delivered some crucial kills which briefly interrupted Chelan's momentum in the third set.

Chelan def. Ephrata 25-7, 25-11, 25-12
Ephrata leaders — Faith Rodriguez 10 digs; Navi Kaur 2 blocks; Alexis Chornuk 3 kills; Izzlee Haney 3 kills.

EAST WENATCHEE — Ephrata opened its volleyball season Tuesday night with a straight-set loss to Eastmont, falling 25-14, 25-10, 25-18 in a match where momentum swings and unforced errors kept the Tigers from finding their rhythm.

The Tigers opened strong, battling through 10 ties and four lead changes before Eastmont strung together a 7-0 run to seize control and claim the set.

In the second set, Ephrata struck first but struggled to sustain possession, giving up points on net violations, defensive miscues and missed kills. Eastmont’s Isla Chapman led a steady attack as the Wildcats dominated in the 25-10 win.

The Tigers showed fight in the third behind a pair of aces and a kill from Alexis Chornuk, trimming the deficit late. But Eastmont’s serving pressure and strong net play proved too much, sealing the match, 25-18.

As they prepare for the next round of competition, MacLeod says her Tigers are focused on "executing our basics and playing as a team. I’d like to see us execute on free ball, for us to really focus on preparation of each ball and how we are going to score out of it," she said.

Ephrata continues its road tour by visiting Othello Tuesday, Sept. 16; first serve is at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers' first home match on Marty O'Brien Court is Thursday, Sept. 18 also at 6:30 p.m.

Eastmont def. Ephrata 25-14, 25-10, 25-18
Ephrata leaders — Sidney Chornuk 3 kills; Alexis Chornuk 2 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces; Navi Kaur 3 blocks.