Crane powered past Imbler in four sets to capture the 1A volleyball title Saturday night at La Grande High School.

LA GRANDE — It’s hard to win a state title, but Crane makes it look easy, winning its third consecutive OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A championship with a 26-24, 25-15, 21-25, 25-17 victory over Imbler on Saturday night at La Grande High School.

“We were determined this weekend,” Crane coach Maddye Wester said. “We saw a different level of commitment, competitiveness and desire. They never let up.”

Wester, who has been at the helm for all three titles, said each one is special.

“It’s a huge honor to work with young ladies who are able to see the big picture,” Wester said. “They bought into the components of working as a team.”

Imbler, which last won a state title in 2013, added a second-place trophy to the one they won in 2016.

“Definitely not the way we wanted it to end,” Imbler coach Jennifer Teeter said. “I’m incredibly proud of them getting to this match. Proud that we were able to get that set off of them. Our seniors stepped up and played well for us.”

Imbler (26-8) was in control of the first set, taking a 19-13 lead. The Mustangs (27-5) slowly chipped away at the lead and forged ties of 23-23 and 24-24.

With Kamryn Dunten at the service line, Imbler put a ball in the net to give Crane a 25-24 advantage. On set point, Ava Bowen laid down a kill to seal the win.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 19-10 lead in the second set, and got two kills by Bowen, and two ace serves as a team to cruise to the win.

The Panthers turned the tables in the third, leading most of the way. The Mustangs tied the score at 16-16, but a kill by Maggie Pahlow forced a sideout, and Alondra Camacho served the next four points for a 21-16 lead.

Crane pulled within 21-19 and 23-20, but could not take the lead. Kali Camp put a tip in an open hole to seal the win for the Panthers.

The loss lit a fire under the Mustangs, who took a 14-5 lead to open the fourth set. The Panthers picked up a couple of points here and there, but could not string together enough points to catch the Mustangs. Emily Clark placed a kill on the back line on match point.

“Credit to them, I think they played smart, aggressive volleyball,” Teeter said of the Mustangs. “We showed we could play with them at times, but we weren’t as consistent as we needed to be.”

Wester said Imber was a worthy opponent.

“Imbler is an incredible team,” she said. “I really respect Jennifer, her staff and her team. It was an honor to play them. They will be back next year with a fire in their belly.”

Dunten, a first-team all-tournament selection, and the Mustangs’ Moda Health Player of the Game, finished with 23 kills, four blocks and 14 sigs, while Bowen had 16 kills 17 digs and three aces, Cara Goss-Bodily 16 kills, 10 digs and three aces, Kendal Nichols 47 assists and 10 digs, Anita Peila 12 digs and three aces, and Clark 14 digs.

For the Panthers, Kali Camp had nine kills and 11 blocks, while Jeytt Cant had seven kills, four blocks and 11 digs, Isla Howard six kills, four blocks and 11 digs, Pahlow five kills and 10 blocks, Cora Royes five blocks, and Maycee Costi five blocks. 

Whitney Haddock, Imbler’s Moda Health Player of the Game, had 14 assists and was 13 of 13 serving, while Olivia Haddock had 11 assists, and Camacho had 12 digs and was 13 of 13 serving with one ace.