YAKIMA – In a back-and-forth match for the Class 2A state volleyball championship, one difference stood out between top-seeded Lynden and No. 2 Ellensburg – the Lions ability to close.

Lynden provided the finishing kick needed to cap an unbeaten season and claim the school’s first state championship 26-24, 25-23, 26-24.

Ellensburg, which finished runner-up for the second straight season, was looking to add a championship to the one the Bulldogs captured in 1998.

Both teams displayed their strengths.

For Lynden that’s the hitting prowess led by Washington recruit Rian Stephan and Finley Parcher, when last in the Yakima Valley SunDome was taking MVP honors in leading the Lions basketball team to a second straight basketball championship.

And Ellensburg showed its balance, topped by senior hitter Joely Tornow and libero Aubree Roseberry, the CWAC Defensive MVP.

Tornow has 12 kills and seven digs, Lydia Simmon added 15 digs and eight kills, Andi Musser totaled 14 digs and five kills and Roseberry delivered 34 digs. Ava Stueckle had 13 assists and seven digs, and Sarah Stueckle dished out 12 assists and added 13 digs.

The Bulldogs (19-3) entered the championship match having swept their first three opponents, including four-time defending champion Columbia River.

Ellensburg topped the second-seeded Rapids 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 to avenge last year’s loss in the championship match.

Simmons led the Bulldogs with 15 kills and seven digs, Tornow had 12 kills and two aces, Roseberry chipped in 20 digs, and Sarah Stueckle and Ava Stueckle had 23 and 11 assists, respectively. The Stueckles added four digs and an assist apiece.

Ellensburg’s only losses of the season were to six-time champ Chelan, CBBN champion and 4A contender and to the Lions.

Lynden (23-0) advanced to the championship match with a 3-1 victory against Northwest Conference rival Sehome. The set the Mariners won was just the seventh taken off the Lions this season.

Columbia River swept Sehome for third place.

Selah, the CWAC’s second qualifier, fell to Archbishop Murphy 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 to finish the season 15-6.