WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High School volleyball team enters the first week of 2026 Trico League matches unbeaten after three non-league victories to christen Coach Naomi Posini’s initial season.
The Bruins improved to 3-0 with a 3-2 win at Evergreen High of east Vancouver on Sept. 8. The Bruins will resume action Sept. 15 at home against the La Center High School Wildcats to start WIAA Class 1A Trico League play. La Center has been the measuring stick for Trico volleyball for many seasons. The Wildcats have finished fourth, fourth and third at the past three WIAA state tournaments.
Columbia, with a five-senior core, is playing at a quality level early this season. The win over Class 3A Evergreen showed the Bruins have staying power, as well.
Evergreen led 2-1 in sets and was up 23-20 in the fourth set before Columbia came back to win. The set featured eight ties, and four lead changes. Fiona Grabb’s kill shot and a subsequent Evergreen line violation at the net resulted in the home team clinging to a 23-22 lead. After an Evergreen timeout, two hitting errors led to Columbia moving in front, 24-23.
The match was tied after the Bruins miscommunicated on a pass before Joella Posini gave Columbia the lead on a push point to the open court. Another Columbia mistake led to another tie, but Grabb hit a winner and then served for match point. After a short rally, Liz Salguero Carabantes dug an Evergreen return then converted a set from Posini into the set winner.
The fifth and deciding set was highlighted by a Julia Mullinix service run when Columbia went from a 5-4 lead to a 10-5 advantage. Mullinix had one ace during the five-point spurt and an assist on a Taryn Wallace spike.
Evergreen pulled to within 10-9 before Bruin freshman Myla Giovannoni hit a kill shot which was followed by two Genesis Orozco aces. At match point, Orozco dug out a return which Mullinix set to Posini for the winner.
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