After climbing to the heights of the state volleyball circles – qualifying for the 16-team Class 2A state tournament – the White River High squad found the going rather tough.

The Hornets dropped two matches Friday and were eliminated from further tourney play.

The two-day 2A tournament was staged at the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom campus in Lakewood.

The Hornet girls opened tourney play by dropping a four-game battle to the Sehome Seahawks, a team that went on to claim fourth-place honors. White River took the opener 25-22, but the Seahawks bounced back to take the next three – 25-18, 25-14, 25-13 – and win the match.

The Hornets were paced by Taylor Keating who had nine kills and Kelsey Williams, who finished with 18 digs and eight kills.

The Friday morning loss put White River into an afternoon, loser out contest against the Ridgefield Spudders. The Hornets’ second match went even longer than the first.

After dropping the opener 26-24, White River won the next two games by a 25-23 margin. Ridgefield wasn’t to be denied, however, and won the next two 25-16 and 15-8.

The Hornets were led in game two by Williams, who had 32 digs, and Emily Kuntz, with 11 kills.

The White River girls finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-5, which included a 10-4 mark in South Puget Sound League 2A play, good for third-place. The Hornets then went 3-1 in district play before being swept in their two state games.