The men’s and women’s soccer teams clinched playoff spots last week, and volleyball is on the doorstep.

The Lady T-Birds win over Grays Harbor gave them an 8-1-1 record, clinching both the West Division title and a ticket to the NWAC championships. 

The team had no issue dealing with Grays Harbor on Wednesday, beating them 10-0. 

Five different players scored for Highline. Midfielder Gizel Pene added two goals in the 5th and 13th minutes. Forward Isabelle White scored a goal in the 20th minute and midfielder Ashley Teofilo put in a goal at the 29-minute mark.

The Lady T-Birds had two players score hat tricks. Meredith Udovich put in her three goals at the 15th, 41st, and 44th minute. Franqie Moppins scored her three goals in the 4th, 49th, and 52nd minute.

The team also took care of business in a thriller against Centralia on Saturday, winning 5-4.

Gizel Pene put up her first goal of the season in the 15th minute, putting Highline up 1-0. Centralia immediately tied up the match, with Chloe Dolman scoring in the 23rd minute.

The Lady T-Birds fired back with two goals, midfielder Elsa Young in the 31st minute and morward Cynthia Roberts in the 33rd minute.

Elsie Harris of Centralia scored in the 39th minute. At the 45-minute mark forward Myka Carr put in a goal just in time to give Highline a 4-2 lead going into halftime. 

Centralia put up the first two goals of the second half. Chloe Dolman scored her second goal off of a penalty kick in the 55th minute, and Erin Stanfill tied the game at four with a goal in the 77th minute.

The tie did not last long though as Meredith Udovich put in a clutch goal in the 84th minute off a pass from Ashley Teofilo, ultimately winning the game for Highline. 

The Lady T-Birds faced Lower Columbia on Wednesday with results unavailable at press time.

With the division title in hand, the Lady T-Birds are likely to get a first-round bye in the playoffs. Highline wraps up its regular season at Bellevue, Saturday, Oct. 30 at noon.

The men’s soccer team won by forfeit against Pierce on Saturday. With this win, Highline secured a playoff spot with a 7-5 record.

“We are pretty excited to be playing in the NWAC playoffs, as we did not get to last season due to COVID, we are prepared and ready to bring it home,” said Forward Alex Velasco.  

With one game to play Tacoma has clinched the division title. The team finishes their regular season on Saturday at Bellevue.

The T-Birds begin their postseason run on Nov. 6 at Columbia Basin, the team will play whoever finishes third in the NWAC south, most likely Clark or Lane.

The volleyball team beat the sixth place Centralia Trailblazers 3-0 on Wednesday. This win brings the Lady T-Birds’ record to 6-1, still one game behind Pierce for first place in the NWAC West.

“We were very versatile as we had different players on the court and played very consistently. We will need everyone ready for the NWAC tournament,” said Head Coach Chris Littleman.

The Lady T-Birds Beat the Trailblazers 25-17 in the first set, 25-17 in the second, and 25-16 to wrap it up in three. Outside Hitter Bethany Tuchardt led the team with 10 kills on a 47 percent kill percentage, and middle Hitter Kylie Lunday pitched in with nine kills on a 66 percent kill percentage.

Outside hitter Rebecca Zenger went down with an injury during the game.

“She has a minor sprain. Hopefully she will be back by the Tacoma match, if not, then the following week,” said Littleman.

The Lady T-Birds played 0-8 Green River on Wednesday, with results unavailable at press time.

“We cannot be predictable and we have to be ready for their controlled chaos,” Littleman said.

Highline then goes on the road to face Tacoma on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

“Tacoma is very scrappy and plays with a lot of energy and chatter,” said Coach Littleman.

The Highline women’s golf team played in the NWAC invitational on Oct 17-18. This was the team’s last tournament of the season.

The Invitational was held at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima. That course will also be the site of the NWAC Championships next May.

Highline ended up finishing sixth out of nine teams, North Idaho’s team placed first.

Brooklyn Grant shot 82-85 and finished ninth; Ashlynn Verhaaren shot 90-91 and finished 26th and Faylisa Valle shot 92-91 and finished 29th.

“Brooklyn Grant had a run of five straight pars during her opening round of 82,” said Head Coach Steve Turcotte.

The team is done for the season, they begin again in late March for the spring season.