The Rapids won their fourth consecutive state title at the Class 2A volleyball tournament, and the players say the key is a family atmosphere and a passion that goes deeper than just the results on the court

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The championship is the reward at the end of a season.

It is the journey that becomes the life-changing experience.

The Columbia River Rapids are champions again, the fourth year in a row that the school’s volleyball program has won the state title.

This squad had to overcome the loss of five key seniors from last year’s team. Some in the volleyball community figured Columbia River’s reign was going to come to an end. These Rapids, even after winning three years in a row, were the 3-seed, not the top-seed at the state tournament.

Inside the Columbia River program, even during their tough times adjusting to new talent mixing in with some skilled veterans, the Rapids had a plan. 

That plan had more to do with family than volleyball.

Clark County Today was able to have yet another “Chat with the Champions” this week at Columbia River High School, a couple of days after the Rapids won the state championship in Yakima.

Love. Family. Mental health.

Those were the keys to the season.

Riley Schoonmaker, a senior, was a newcomer to varsity this season, trying to fill some big shoes. 

“At first, that was very intimidating. But our coaches did a really good job of helping us get through that and work together and lean on each other instead of focusing on the past,” Schoonmaker said. “This feels like a whole new team came together to carry on that legacy.”

A whole new team, with the same championship finish.

“We would always push each other in practice. Playing against each other just really made us a better team and a stronger family, even,” Shoonmaker said.

She praised head coach Breanne Smedley and assistant coach Luke Carlson for their wisdom and their passion for the game.

“Luke and Bre do a really good job of having us fall in love with the sport,” Schoonmaker said. “That carries us to more than just wanting to have a championship. It’s deeper than that. It’s about loving our family and loving being on the court all the time.”

Senior Sydney Dreves is the only member of this year’s squad to have been on varsity for all four championship seasons. She has signed to play at Boise State next year.

“Outside of winning, it’s such a good family environment, coaching environment. They are very good for our mental health. It feels good to be part of this program,” said Dreves, adding that even out of season, every player and coach in the program are there for each other.

This is the third championship for senior Katelynn Kessler.

“Our amazing coaches make sure our grades are up, make sure that we are on top of all things,” Kessler said. “They talk to us individually about our in-sport goals, and our out-of-sport goals, personally.”

The support goes beyond the team, too. It seems as if all of Columbia River High School supports its champions.

“The entire school was congratulating us today,” Kessler said Monday afternoon, “cheering for us when we walked into the classroom.”

That support was for the whole team, too, not just the standouts.

“I noticed there was a lot of River pride at the school,” said sophomore Grace Sheron. “Even though I didn’t get a lot of playing time, there was such a whole lot of support from the school. River pride runs deep here.”

The way this team won the 2024 title is so much different than the previous championships. Columbia River won 36 out of 38 sets at state from 2021-23. Those Rapids never trailed in a match.

This year, the Rapids lost four sets in the tournament and not only were they losing in the championship match to top-seed Ellensburg, the Rapids faced championship point in the fourth set. Ellensburg was one point away from becoming the new state champion.

The reigning champions had other ideas.

“I was terrified at first,” Sophia Gourley acknowledged.

Then she remembered her coaching.

“I thought about my reset. Go back to our breathing, our reset methods,” Gourley said. “Then I told myself I want (the ball) to come to me. I want to prove we can come back because we are Columbia River, and we fight for every single point.”

Sure enough, the ball came her way. She passed it to setter Avery Seley.

“I had been struggling the past couple of sets,” Seley said. “I was just under a lot of pressure obviously. I was getting really stressed out. I just set it.”

She set it perfectly to the perfect person at that very moment, the soon-to-be four-time champion.

“I wanted Avery to give it to me,” Dreves said. “We have an eye-contact thing when I want the ball.”

Dreves delivered. She did not get the kill on that set but did the ball over the net. Ellensburg had trouble on its end, got the ball back to River’s side, then River got the kill to tie the set at 24-all. River would win the next two points to force a fifth set.

In between sets, Gourley reminded her teammates of all they had done well to get to this point and to not worry so much about the stakes.

The Rapids went back to the court with confidence, then dominated that final set to win 15-8.

Gourley got the final kill, noting that she promised herself that if she got the opportunity that she was going to swing 100 percent. 

The championship point set off a championship celebration.

“I just took a deep breath and just started crying,” Dreves said. “That’s the picture-perfect ending, especially being a senior. It felt like I could breathe again. Those two days were the most stressful two days of any state we’ve been to.”

Kessler agreed.

“As soon as Sophia got the winning kill, all the emotions just flooded,” Kessler said. “I personally don’t like crying, but I was a hot mess. That was the end of my entire volleyball career. It was definitely a picture-perfect moment, all-out effort. Everything leading up to that moment was just so worth it.”

Dreves had some personal motivation this season, as well. She said a lot of people doubted River’s chances this year because of the graduation of Sydney’s older sister Lauren, who is now playing college volleyball at Auburn.

Losing such a talent and starting over with a new team led to the three-time champions getting the 3-seed instead of No. 1. Oh yes, that was motivating, too.

“Anyone who comes into the Columbia River program can make a difference,” Sydney Dreves said. “We defied the seeding. Being the underdog just really motivated us to prove the seeding wrong. I kept saying that: Prove the seeding wrong.”

The Rapids did just that, and their reign atop Class 2A volleyball continues.

Coach Breanne Smedley

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. They carried the weight of a target on their backs all season while rebuilding after losing powerhouse seniors from last year. Yet their standards and expectations never wavered. From day one, our goal was clear: get back to the championship. They kept grinding this season and by the state tournament, even as underdogs, they were ready to prove they belonged.”

Smedley said Dreves’ leadership in the clutch moments was “nothing short of remarkable,” showing the poise of a true senior leader.

“Watching this team fight with everything they had and come out on top was an unforgettable feeling. 

“This win will forever be one of the greatest in our program’s history.”

Columbia River Rapids:

No. 1 Karlee Ogee
No. 2 Avery Seley 
No. 3 3 Aria McCarstle
No. 4 Sydney Dreves 
No. 5 Katie Dumas 
No. 6 Hailey Shidner
No. 7 Katelynn Kessler
No. 8 Sophia Gourley
No. 9 Riley Schoonmaker 
No. 10 Ally Staples
No. 11 Ava Bond 
No. 12 Grace Sheron