Bothell beats Eastlake for place in conference championship | Prep volleyball

For the better part of four sets in the conference semifinals, the Bothell High volleyball team stuck neck-and-neck with Eastlake.

In the fifth set, the Cougars kicked it into high gear.

Bothell closed out Eastlake 25-21, 24-26, 20-25, 25-19, 25-3 on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Bothell High School, qualifying for the conference title match.

The Cougars played the fifth set without an error, hitting .727 and registering eight kills on 11 attacks. Bothell’s Camille Gilmore had a huge match, finishing with 16 kills and 13 digs. Middle blocker Maddie Butters had 13 kills, hitter Alexa Torres had 12 and Sydney Cowan had 10.

It was the second of two standout performances from Gilmore, who led Bothell with 11 kills in a 3-0 win over Mount Si on Thursday in the first round of the tournament. Bothell committed five errors in the match, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-17.

Butters and Gabby Kepley each had seven kills.

Next, Bothell is scheduled to play Issaquah for the 4A KingCo title at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bothell High School.

Issaquah beat Inglemoor, 3-0, in the first round and beat Skyline, 3-1, in the semifinal. The loser of the championship match will play the winner between Skyline and Eastlake on Saturday evening for a place in the state tournament.

Bothell beats Eastlake for place in conference championship | Prep volleyball
Bothell beats Eastlake for place in conference championship | Prep volleyball
Bothell beats Eastlake for place in conference championship | Prep volleyball