Wildcats earn comeback win against Braves

Mount Si wins final three sets against Bishop Blanchet.

The Mount Si Wildcats girls volleyball team didn’t let a setback in the first set derail them in a non-league matchup against the Bishop Blanchet Braves.

Mount Si registered a 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17) comeback win against Bishop Blanchet on Sept. 6 at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie. Mount Si head coach Bonnie Foote, who is in her 19th season leading the Wildcats, was thrilled to see her team rebound after losing the first set of action.

“We just had to keep pushing forward. We didn’t give up or let off. We had to clean a few things up. It was really just about us taking care of us,” Foote said. “We did that by controlling our game and our side of the court.”

Mount Si senior Bellah Gogan, who finished with a team-high 18 kills from her outside hitter position, knew it was a matter of time before her squad got on track after the first set.

“In the first game I just think we were getting started. We just had to keep our energy up and play as a team. We managed to do that and got the win,” Gogan said.

Gogan dominated the action and had the clinching kill in the third set, giving the Wildcats a commanding 2-1 lead.

“This is Bellah’s fourth year on varsity. She was awesome tonight and really took care of us,” Foote said of Gogan.

Foote believes this Wildcats team has a chance to advance deep into the postseason.

“This is the best volleyball that has been played in this gym in four years. I am excited. We just have a bunch of nice girls on this team who want to compete and love to play volleyball. They work hard in practice and they got grit. I love that. They don’t give up,” Foote said. “There is a lot of banners over there (on the wall of the gym) and we are hoping for another one.”

Gogan said her team wants to reach the pinnacle of the Class 4A state tournament this November.

“We want to go to state. We really want to go this year. We have the desire,” Gogan said.