Lynden Christian secures state playoff berth after 3-0 win over Mount Baker

The District 1-2 volleyball tournament concluded on Thursday, Nov. 5, with Lynden Christian High School securing the final playoff slot. The Lyncs defeated Mount Baker 3-0 to claim the crossover position, a victory that follows their loss in the district championship on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Lynden Christian will now face Bear Creek in a winner-to-state, loser-out match. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Bear Creek High School.

Coach Kim Grycel noted that the team used their Tuesday loss as motivation. “Mount Baker really worked hard this season,” Grycel said. “It was a great night with good competition. It was good for us to get back in the jerseys after a disappointing loss to Meridian.”

The Lyncs controlled the first set after overcoming an early deficit. Mount Baker held a 9-8 lead, but Lynden Christian built a 14-11 advantage before finishing the set with a 4-1 run. The Lyncs took the first game 25-17.

The second set proved to be the most dominant performance for Lynden Christian. They established an 11-4 lead, though Mount Baker narrowed the gap to two points at 17-15. Lynden Christian closed out the set with an 8-2 scoring run to win 25-17 again.

The third set saw Mount Baker fight to keep their season alive. The Mountaineers took an early 6-1 lead, but Lynden Christian tied the score at 6-6. Mount Baker regained a 10-9 lead, but the Lyncs pulled ahead at 12-11 and never looked back. The match ended at 25-20 after a kill by senior middle blocker Jocelyn Eshuis.

Eshuis led the team with 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Tyra Dykstra recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs. This was her fourth match back from a one-month injury absence. Jess DeJong added 11 kills.

Freshman setter Brielle Berendsen led the squad with 19 assists, while sophomore setter Emeri Fritts contributed 13. Senior libero Lyla Parriera recorded 16 digs and four aces. Parriera credited the team’s improved serve receive for the victory. “Our serve receive was a lot better than Tuesday,” Parriera said.

Mount Baker finished the season with a 6-9 record, their best since 2021. The Mountaineers will lose five seniors: Rebeca Soares, Hayden Macdonald, Emma Richardson, Lily Reeves, and Violet Fox. Head coach Jennifer Galbraith expressed pride in the team’s effort despite the loss.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Galbraith said. “They worked really hard. I think we got this far because they bought in. I hope we're on the upward trajectory. I hope this is not the peak of it. We wanted to go further, and I believe we will get there.”