LA GRANDE — Top-ranked Crosshill Christian punched its ticket to the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A championship game Friday night with a 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 25-12 victory over Heppner at Eastern Oregon University.
“We knew we had a target on our back, but we also had a goal,” Crosshill Christian coach Julie Bennett said. “We went into state last year knowing it would be competitive. This year, we knew what we had, what our goal was and knew we would have to be tight to get here.”
The Eagles (28-3) will play Clatskanie for the title at 8 p.m. Saturday, while the Mustangs will take on Portland Christian in the third-place match at 11 a.m.
The Mustangs (24-8) last played for a state trophy in 2012 when they placed fifth.
“Proud of their effort tonight,” Heppner coach Mindy Wilson said. “They battled every ball and never gave up. That’s all I ask for.”
The Eagles played for the title last year, losing to Salem Academy, which has moved to the 3A division.
Against Heppner, Crosshill Christian found itself with a 14-9 lead at one point, but the Mustangs rallied back for lead to 19-18, 20-18 and 20-19 before the Eagles forged a 20-20 tie.
Sierra Poush served the last six points of the match, and capitalized on an errant hit by Heppner on set point.
Crosshill Christian led most of the second set, and at times had leads seven and five points. The Mustangs came back to tie the score at 18-18 and it was back and forth from there. Heppner held on for a 26-24 victory to knot the match at one set apiece.
The Mustangs looked to take a 2-1 lead after jumping out to a 19-13 lead in the third set after Avree Lathrop served four consecutive points.
Then the Eagles took over. Hannah Dripps served the final 11 points of the set for a 25-19 win.
Crosshill Christian won the fourth set, taking leads of 7-1 and 16-8.
Holding a 17-10 lead, Zoey Baker took to the service line for the Eagles and reeled off six points for a 23-10 lead. Heppner picked up two points, but it wouldn’t be enough.
Ellie Bartel and Baker each had 16 kills for the Eagle, while Payton Kaufman had seven kills, and Poush four kills.
“Sierra played the defensive game of her life,” Bennett said. “She was willing to get on the floor and go after the ball. It made a big impact for us.”
Isa Payne had 18 kills and 11 digs for the Mustangs, while Catherine Lindsey had 11 kills and five blocks, Maya Payne 27 assists and 13 digs, Cici Stefani 11 digs, Lathrop 10 digs.
“Isa was creative and handled the ball well,” Bennett said. “We were able to get a read on the hitter and respond. Grateful we spent a lot of time working on that.”
A look at Friday’s other semifinal matches
2A
No. 6 Clatskanie 3, No. 7 Portland Christian 1: The Tigers reached the championship game for the first time in school history with a 25-22, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory over the Royals.
“It’s a very exciting day,” Clatskanie coach Amanda Baker said. “This is our fourth time playing them. They are in our league (Northwest League). We knew exactly what we were getting into. They are our toughest competition.”
Clatskanie (24-4) will play Crosshill Christian for the title at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles beat the Tigers in the state quarterfinals last year.
“We are excited to see them again,” Baker said. “This has been our goal all season to make it to the championship game. I felt we had all the pieces.”
Against the Royals (19-4), the Tigers had nine aces as a team, including three by Mya Jensen, and played solid defense.
“We played some amazing defense and there were some really long rallies,” Baker said
Lacey Willis led the Tigers with 16 kills, while Joey Sizemore had 13 kills, Addy Compton 34 assists, and McKinsey Doyle 22 digs.
1A
No. 1 Crane 3, No. 4 Umpqua Valley Christian 1: The two-time defending state champion Mustangs will look to add another title to their coffers after beating the Monarchs 25-20, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16.
“It has been a one game at a time mentality,” Crane coach Maddye Wester said. “We are grateful to have an opportunity to work toward that. It came down to everyone contributing. We played really well as a team, and we were really determined.”
The Mustangs (26-5) will play Imbler in the championship match. The two met earlier this season, with Crane winning the five-set match.
“We are looking forward to it,” Wester said. “They are a great team, and they are well coached. It will be a fun night of volleyball and a battle.”
Kamryn Dunten led Crane with 23 kills, 10 digs and four blocks, while Ava Bowen had 16 kills, five blocks and nine digs, Kendal Nichols 47 assists and 15 digs, Emily Clark 20 digs, Anita Peila 15 digs, and Cara Goss-Bodily 13 kills and five aces.
No. 10 Imbler 3, No. 3 Central Christian 0: The Panthers will go after their fourth state title in school history after beating the Tigers 25-15, 25-23, 25-23.
Imbler (26-7) will play two-time defending state champion Crane in the finals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at La Grande High School.
Central Christian (25-6) will play Umpqua Valley Christian in the third-place match at 11 a.m. Saturday.
After cruising to a win in the first set, the Panthers were pushed in the second and third sets.
Trailing 2-0, the Tigers forged eight ties in the third set, with the last being 23-23. A missed serve by Rosie Miracle gave Imbler a 24-23 lead, and a kill by Jeytt Cant sent the Panthers to the championship game.
Friday’s quarterfinals
2A
Isa Payne had 17 kills, nine digs and four blocks to lead Heppner to a 25-14, 25-21, 25-19 victory over Delphian. Catherine Lindsay added seven kills and one block for the Mustangs, while Maya Payne had 26 assists, seven digs and four kills. … In a mild upset, Clatskanie beat Myrtle Point 25-23, 25-17, 25-14. Joey Sizemore led Clatskanie with 14 kills, two blocks and seven digs, while Lacey Willis had 12 kills, five digs and two aces, Addy Compton 33 assists, eight digs and two aces, and Izzy Mustula eight aces and four digs. … Portland Christian dropped the first set against Trinity Luthern, then stormed back for an 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-13 upset victory. … Top-ranked Crosshill Christian was challenged by Weston-McEwen, but was able to pull out a 25-18, 26-24, 25-18 victory. Charlotte Hansell led the TigerScots with 11 kills and seven digs, while Bre Ward had seven kills and three blocks.
1A
Imbler punched its ticket to the semifinals with a 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 quarterfinal victory over St. Paul. Isla Howard had 16 kills and four digs for the Panthers, while Kali Camp had 10 kills and four blocks and Whitney Haddock 20 assists. … The top-ranked Crane ran its win streak to 10 with a 25-18, 25-12, 22-25, 25-11 victory over Joseph. Kamryn Dunten finished the match with 20 kills and four aces, while Cara Goss-Bodily had 17 kills and four aces, Ava Bowen 17 kills, Kendal Nichols 44 assists, and Emily Clark 22 digs.
… In a knock-down, drag-out affair, Umpqua Valley Christian held on for a 15-25, 25-18, 30-28, 27-29, 15-11 victory over North Powder. Sky Nesser had 25 kills, 10 blocks and 19 digs for the Badgers, while Janie Bingham had 48 assists and 18 digs, and Kellee Dixon 25 kills and 35 digs. … Central Christian cruised to a 25-16, 25-8, 25-19 quarterfinal win over Mountain Valley League foe North Lake. Tabitha Terry had nine kills, five blocks and 20 digs for the Tigers, while Tatum Wills added eight kills and two aces, and Joslynn Terry 21 assists.
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