ILWACO, Wash. – The Ilwaco volleyball team made tremendous strides from the first to the third games, but still came out on the losing end of the match Wednesday night against visiting Ridgefield.

The Spudders left with a 25-8, 25-10, 25-20 victory over the Lady Fishermen, who were playing in just their second match of the season.

“I thought we made an incredible improvement in the third game,” said Ilwaco’s first-year coach, Grant Chinn. “We played tough, the team defense was great, and I think we showed in the third game that we can play with Ridgefield.”

The Fishermen had good nights from Nicole Davis and Jenny Bergerson in her first varsity experience.

“And I really appreciate the leadership that Heather Hocking and Mary Mar Tomberlin are giving us,” Chinn said. “They’re seniors, they’ve both been to state, and that really helps me when I can have two players like that on the floor.”

Ilwaco plays at Castle Rock tonight.