Though qualifying for the state tournament was largely a formality, it’s still something the Prairie volleyball team made a point to celebrate on Thursday.

Prairie improved to 16-1 with a three-set sweep of Shelton in the District 4 semifinals. The win clinched a spot in Saturday’s district title match and a berth in the Class 3A state tournament Nov. 21-22 in Yakima.

Ranked No. 4 in the latest 3A state coaches poll, clinching a fourth consecutive state berth wasn’t surprising for the Falcons. What was unusual was celebrating that feat in their home gym.

Over the past 20-plus years, Class 3A District 4 teams have joined the Puget Sound-area District 3 in a bi-district tournament up north. That offered a shot at earning more than the one state playoff berth District 4 would receive on it

See Full Page