Highline volleyball didn’t just show up Friday night – they took over the court. In a five-set battle loaded with momentum swings, defensive grit, and clutch plays at the wire, the T-Birds proved they could dig deep when it mattered most. From huge blocks to relentless hustle, Highline outlasted Centralia 3-2 in a match that kept the gym buzzing until the final swing.

After the emotional five-set finish, Highline assistant coach Jeff McDonald spoke proudly about the team’s grit and the energy they brought into the gym. He also spoke especially highly about Saniah Johnson’s (#3) performance. Coach McDonald said,  “We were heavy on running the pins, she had a lot on her shoulders and rose to the occasion … we definitely depended on her, they knew she was gonna get the ball. Good job by her.”

Highline is approaching the post season where every win counts. “It puts us in a really good place for the post season. So that was a big win. If we would’ve lost that and dropped down, and now we’re already qualified for the post season that puts us at the top,” Coach McDonald said, noting that it was definitely a challenging match for them.

Highline owned the court from first serve to set point. They came out hot, setting the tone immediately with a very dominant offense with powerful touches, smart swings, and all out defense at last Friday’s game. By the time the scoreboard read 19-3, the T-Birds already looked like they owned the gym.

Johnson (#3) was everywhere playing with her chest out, her cannon arm, not just swinging away but playing smart to keep the Cascadia Trailblazer’s defense guessing. Taeah Makuakane (#2) piled on with two big swings, and libero, Taylor Reese Hess (#11), kept giving crisp and clean passes to her setter Kiara IIoilo (#18) to set their offense up for success. 

Centralia tried to claw back, staying within 2 to 3 points, but Johnson shut the door with a set-winning kill: 24–20, Set One = Highline.

Centralia flipped the script in the next set, taking control and closing strong. The T-Birds opened with a block, a statement: We’re still here. Johnson added another kill (because of course), then even laid out for a huge dig. But Centralia found their rhythm, taking the lead 8–6 and forcing Highline into some gritty rallies.

The T-birds tied it up at 11 but Centralia answered with a surge of points making it 15-12. With the Thunderbirds not backing down, they side out right away and with a change Jhelzue Isabelle Manzano (#10 ) setting (switch up) 16-18 setter dump kill, then stretching to 21–15 behind scrappy defense from libero Cadence Gumanas (#8), causing the T-Birds to take a time out. 

Iloilo (#18), their original setter came back in, but Centralia kept their momentum. After a questionable call, Johnson (#3) was able to put up some serving pressure bringing their score up to 23-18, but Centralia ended up with the first set point. The T-Birds didn’t back down, pushing the score up just one more point before Centralia takes set two, 25-19

Energy surged again as the T-Birds powered past Centralia as set three began. Centralia scored first, but Johnson (#3) again said NOPE, kill, block, digs everywhere, with Makuakane (#2) taking care of business with blocks of her own. There was back-and-forth score trading until Highline finally stepped ahead 11–8. But Centralia wasn’t done creeping … time out at 15–11, and suddenly it was 16–16.

Highline refused to break. A block by Aissata Bangoura (#8) and Makuakane (#2) brought the energy back into the huddle. With that, the T-Birds were able to run away 24-18 and an error by Centralia gave set three to the Birds, who now lead 2-1.

Centralia struck first in set four, but Johnson immediately sided out with a kill to get the T-Birds rolling again. Nevaeh Havens-Seyler (#7) and Makuakane (#2) threw up a huge block to put Highline ahead 2–1, and when Iloilo (#18) dropped in an ace, the Birds were soaring early.

Johnson kept the defense locked in with a dig, but Centralia answered with their own push to make it 7–4. Makuakane (#2) denied them with another block, then Iloilo (#18) laid out twice in one rally to stretch the lead to 9-4. Smart sneaky play from Nevaeh Seuteni (#13) forced a Centralia timeout with Highline up 10-4.

The T-Birds kept swinging, even with massive defensive effort – with digs from Centralia’s libero Gumanas (#8) and a noteworthy block from Georgiana Kalamafoni (#6), but Seuteni (#13) had a huge stuff block of her own giving Highline a 13-5 lead. But Centralia flipped the momentum again – a huge block and some tough serves brought the score to 13-9, forcing Highline into a timeout of their own. They sided out right away to make it 14-9, but Centralia refused to go away quietly.

Johnson (#3) stuffed a solo block to put Highline up 15-12, and Myalani Watson (#1) followed with an ace. Still, Centralia crept within one at 16-15 then tied it 16-16 and stole the lead 18-16. Highline kept battling – side out at 17-18, side out again 18-21, pushing late to get within two at 20-22, forcing a Centralia timeout, but the Trailblazers closed it out taking set four and forcing a decisive fifth. 

Highline delivered in the clutch – match sealed with a statement swing. With the match on the line, Johnson (#3) wasted no time putting Highline on the board in set five. Three gritty rallies later, the T-Birds were up 3-0 and flying high. Havens-Seyler (#7) delivered a kill to keep them rolling, and an ace by Johnson (#3) that kept the pressure on. Centralia fought back to tie it 5-5 but a side out put Highline ahead again, 6-5. Makuakane (#2) came up clutch with a block to give the Birds a two point cushion at 7-5.

Teams switched sides, and Centralia surged into an 8-7 lead out of their timeout. Highline answered quickly – tying the game. Then, a 9-8 lead that slipped into an 11-8 deficit, prompting another T-Bird timeout. They regrouped, sided out, and Johnson (#3) delivered yet another kill to tie it at 11. Highline took back the lead 12-11 but Centralia kept pushing – 12-12…13-12 Centralia…nail biting tension through the roof had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Johnson (#3)  slammed one home to tie it 13-13. Centralia reached match point first at 14-12, but Johnson (#3) – again – forced deuce. A Centralia hitting error flipped the script: Highline match point. Traliblazers called time out hoping to ice the momentum, but no such luck. Makuakane (#2) rose up and crushed the final ball. Highline wins!