The Decatur Gator volleyball team faced a challenging road match against Kentlake on September 30, ultimately falling in four sets (3-1). The game, played at Kentlake High School, marked the Gators' third loss this season against teams currently leading the league standings. Despite the defeat, the team achieved a significant milestone by winning a set against a higher-ranked opponent, a feat they had not managed in earlier losses to Enumclaw and White River.
Head coach Kepa Cummings acknowledged the team's effort, stating, "The energy, they came ready to play and unfortunately the end result didn’t go our way. They fought hard all night long and this is a great team.” The Gators previously suffered straight-set losses to Enumclaw and White River, with White River maintaining an almost perfect record, losing only one set total across ten matches in 2026 and remaining undefeated against league opponents.
Decatur made a strong statement in the first set, executing a late surge to win 25-23 against the Falcons. Freshman Netina Sione made an immediate impact upon entering the game. The 5-foot-10 middle blocker contributed with significant solo blocks and effective offensive plays. Coach Cummings praised Sione's rapid development, noting, "She’s come leaps and bounds, starting as a freshman on varsity against teams like this and a couple other teams in our league, she continues to grow from match to match. I love her progression and I got her for four years."
Kentlake responded decisively in the second set, winning 25-14 and evening the match at one set apiece. The third set proved to be a pivotal turning point. Decatur started strong, with senior Lila OBrien playing a crucial role. OBrien, known for her versatility across multiple positions on the court, was instrumental in building an early lead. Coach Cummings highlighted her dedication and toughness, describing her as "a leader and a fighter" and a "workhorse" whose leadership will be missed in future seasons.
Under OBrien's guidance, Decatur established a commanding 20-13 lead in the third set. However, Kentlake mounted a significant comeback, slowly eroding the seven-point advantage. The Falcons rallied to tie the set at 24-24. Despite Decatur's efforts to halt the momentum, Kentlake completed the turnaround, winning the set 26-24.
With the shift in momentum following the narrow third-set loss, Decatur struggled to regain control in the final set. Kentlake quickly took a 9-3 lead. Although the Gators fought to reduce the deficit to three points in the middle of the set, they ultimately could not close the gap, falling 25-16 in the fourth set. Coach Cummings commended the team's resilience, remarking, "They are out there fighting for each other, they are a scrappy bunch."
Decatur currently holds a position in the standings that will likely secure them a spot in the postseason, largely due to their success against the lower half of the NPSL as the projected fourth seed. The experience gained from competitive matches against strong teams like Kentlake, who made the postseason last year, is expected to benefit the Gators moving forward. Cummings expressed confidence in his team's potential, stating, “They know they can play with these girls. If they can get it in their mindset that they can play, things like this will happen. They will fight this hard.”
The Decatur Gators are set to continue their league season on October 8, when they will face Todd Beamer on the road. First serve is scheduled for 7:15 PM inside the Todd Beamer gymnasium.
