Going into the state 4A volleyball tournament, Auburn Riverside’s Brooke Bray knew the Ravens would have their hands full.

“We expected to have a tough pool (of opponents), no matter what. There is no easy game at this level,” the University of Montana-bound senior hitter said. “We just wanted to go out positive and (finish) in the top five.”

Just how hard it would be became readily apparent in the first round, with the No. 4 Ravens outlasting No. 7 Richland, 3-2, in a marathon two-hour, 30-minute match.

After losing the first game 27-29, the Ravens took Game 2 with a 36-34 score. Game 3 went to the Bombers, 20-25, with Auburn Riverside taking Game 4, 25-20, setting up the rubber game, which the Ravens won 15-12.

Bray drove the team with a school-record 53 kills in the match. She added 10 digs. Brooklynn Bradbury also set a school record in the match with her 67 assists. Maureen Sachs added nine kills and 22 digs. Jane Han contributed 18 digs.

Despite the physical intensity of the match, Bray said the Ravens did not appear to feel any ill effects.

“Our team as a whole conditions every practice. We practice for three hours, and the first hour is just conditioning,” Bray said. “So I don’t think that really affected us that much.”

Mentally, however, the match was uplifting, according to Bray.

“It pumped us up even more,” she said. “Winning in the first round is so important. It’s so hard being in the losers’ bracket. It makes it nerve wracking knowing if you lose, you’re out.”

The win earned the Ravens a second-round match against South Puget Sound League North 4A rival Kentwood, which Auburn Riverside beat 3-2 during the regular season.

The Ravens had no trouble sweeping the Conquerors 3-0 with socres of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-11.

Bray had 21 kills, with Bradbury notching 35 assists and 10 digs. Han contributed 16 digs and Sachs had nine kills. Alison Wuerch had five kills.

In the semifinals, Auburn Riverside faced No. 3 Curtis. The Ravens, who lost twice this season to the Vikings, fell 3-0 behind scores of 25-16, 28-26 and 25-20.

The loss relegated Auburn Riverside to play second-ranked Graham-Kapowsin for third place. The Ravens avenged a 3-1 loss to the Eagles earlier in the season with a 3-0 win. Game scores were 25-17, 25-22 and 25-18.

Bray led the team with 17 kills, five blocks and 10 digs. Sachs had eight kills and 15 digs and Wuerch added nine kills. Kellie Zulauf had 13 digs.

“We’re very pleased,” Bray said. “It was nice to go out in a win … and to beat GK (Graham-Kapowsin). They had beaten us twice during the season.”

For Bray, the tournament marked the end of her prep playing career. Next year the 6-foot-1 hitter will ply her skills for the Big Sky Conference Grizzlies at Missoula, Mont.

“It was tough, but I knew it was going to be fun,” she said of her last high school tournament. “I have a lot of good memories.

“I would definitely say the team (was the highlight),” Bray continued. “It was the most fun group of girls (to be with).”