Lynnwood volleyball rallies past Mountlake Terrace

Lynnwood volleyball advanced to the District 1 3A quarterfinals after defeating Mountlake Terrace 3-2 on Thursday at Lynnwood High School. The No. 8 seed Royals, now 12-6, overcame a two-set deficit to defeat the No. 9 seed Hawks, who improved to 10-8. The victory secured Lynnwood a spot in the district quarterfinals, where they will face the top-seeded Stanwood team on Saturday.

The match followed a pattern set earlier in the season. On Sept. 17, Mountlake Terrace defeated Lynnwood 3-1, marking the Hawks first head-to-head victory against the Royals in 11 years. That win shifted the mental dynamic between the teams. Hawks coach Jean Kellogg noted that players who had experienced the long losing streak against Lynnwood struggled to maintain their focus during the second half of the match on Thursday.

Lynnwood held a 2-0 lead in the final two sets of the previous meeting on Oct. 12, but the teams had split the earlier encounters. In Thursday’s contest, Mountlake Terrace took the first two sets, winning 26-24 and 25-22. Disputes over ball placement and a net violation contributed to the Hawks’ early advantage. The Royals struggled with close calls in the opening sets, but senior middle blocker/setter Audrey Williams urged her teammates to continue fighting.

The momentum shifted in the third set. After Mountlake Terrace led 18-17, Lynnwood scored an 8-3 run to force a fourth set. Junior Petra Guirges organized the team during a timeout, instructing players to focus on positivity and avoid negative thoughts. This change in approach tightened the defense and improved the connection between setters and hitters. Coach Lisa McCullough observed that the Royals began using off-speed shots and tips to keep Mountlake Terrace off balance.

Lynnwood won the third set 25-21, bringing the match score to 2-1. The fourth set saw the Royals pull away with a 7-0 run. Big plays from Williams, Guirges, and sophomore Jordana Leme Pezzano established a 15-8 lead. Although Mountlake Terrace junior Campbell Meek scored a kill and two aces to trim the deficit, Lynnwood closed out the set 25-16. The decisive fifth set went to Lynnwood 15-6, with Williams recording four kills in the first eight points.

Williams finished the match with 21 kills. Guirges added 12 kills and three aces. Other statistical leaders for Lynnwood included junior Nadia Sundquist with 10 kills and two aces, senior Maria Alaniz Luna with seven kills, and Leme Pezzano with four aces. The Royals’ ability to utilize multiple hitters and adjust their setting strategy in critical moments proved decisive in the final sets.

The program is two years removed from winning back-to-back District Championships in 2023 and 2024. After a 4-14 season in 2025, which team members described as a period of disorganization, the Royals have rebuilt their leadership group under first-year coach McCullough. The team finished the league season with a 6-6 record. Williams, a member of the previous championship teams, expressed confidence in the group’s current cohesion.

Stanwood, the top seed in the district, sent scouts to watch the Lynnwood-Mountlake Terrace match. The Royals will travel to Stanwood for their quarterfinal contest on Saturday. Williams indicated the team is eager to test their progress against the conference leader. The match will determine Lynnwood’s advancement to the district semifinals.