Sequim’s volleyball team came excruciatingly close to earning a return trip to the class 2A state finals, but a five-set loss to Sammamish at the Class 2A Bi-District Tournament ended the Wolves’ dreams one win short.

Sammamish’s RedHawks outlasted the Wolves (11-7) in the winner-to-state-loser out contest, 25-15, 15-25, 25-21, 17-25 and 15-9, on Nov. 4 in Bremerton.

SHS senior Jolene Vaara was dominant on the court with 30 kills, four blocks, 21 digs and a 13-for-13 effort at the service line with two aces.

Sydney Clark added 37 assists, Arianna Stovall had four blocks and Sydney Hegtvedt was 11-for-11 on serves with four aces and 19 digs in the loss.

Brianna Palenik chipped in five kills and three aces.

Sequim went 1-2 at districts, falling to Olympic League champ (and longtime rival) North Kitsap 3-0 (25-19, 25-17,25-18) on Nov. 3; the Vikings went on to place fourth.

Against North Kitsap, Vaara led the team with 12 of the team’s 15 kills to go with four blocks and two aces.

Stovall was 12-of-13 on serves with an ace and added two kills and two blocks, while Clark had 10 assists and was 12-of-13 serving.

The Wolves rebounded from the loss to North Kitsap to meet and beat another familiar foe in the district consolation semifinals later that night. Sequim beat Kingston 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-17), setting up the match with Sammamish.

Against Kingston, Vaara had 19 of the team’s 25 kills to pace the SHS offense. The Wolves had 10 aces, including three by Kenzi Berglund and two each from Stovall and Kassie Montero.

Clark had 23 assists and eight digs in the win.