Heading into the fifth set after dropping the fourth, Jesuit girls volleyball told itself there was no other choice.
The Crusaders didn’t survive another five-set match the night before the semifinals for them to go out this way in the title game.
So with the game on the line, the Crusaders turned to the duo who have powered so much of the success for them the past three years in seniors Sadie Ross and Jada Johnson.
And the two absolutely delivered.
Jesuit took that fifth set 15-11 to win the 6A state title over No. 1 Sprague in five sets (22-25, 25-9, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11), the Crusaders 10th state title in the sport.
“I’ve said since my sophomore year that I wanted three rings on my finger, and we did exactly that,” Ross said. “We decided as soon as we were in the fifth, we’ve worked so hard to get here, why give up now?”
The first set changed hands a couple times in the beginning before Sprague got some breathing room up 14-11.
Jesuit chipped away though and took the lead back at 18-17. But Sprague senior Emma Brewer, a transfer from Salem Academy, had back-to-back aces to put Sprague ahead again, followed by a kill from Anna Morley and Brooke Friesen to go up 22-19.
An error from Jesuit made it 23-19, and the Olympians closed the set on two Crusaders service errors to win it 25-22.
Jesuit learned from that first frame though, and came back with possibly its best set of the whole season.
A 4-0 run with three kills from Johnson, a UC Davis commit, plus an ace from sophomore Cecily O’Sullivan put the Crusaders ahead 6-3, and they never looked back.
The lead stood at 15 three separate times and ultimately ended at 16 with Jesuit taking the second 25-9. Johnson started finding her openings after seeing three blockers in the first, and Ross, a New Mexico State commit, was swinging freely as well when it was her turn in the rotation.
Things didn’t get better to start the third for Sprague as Ross had four kills in the first six points of the set, which all went to Jesuit.
“It was great, she killed it and I was so proud of her, she’s such a great volleyball player,” Johnson said of Ross. “I can’t wait to see what she does at New Mexico State. To be able to be her teammate and friend is so great.”
“(Ross) really wanted this and she knows where the open spots are on the floor and she knows how to hit them,” Jesuit head coach Teresa Zimmerlee said. “She’s smart. They served her a little and she came right back around and was passing the ball really well. That’s tough to do.”
Sprague wasn’t going down easy this time though and battled back to be down just 15-14 at one point after two kills from Khloe Livingston and a block earlier.
Jesuit went up 19-15, but again the Olympians found a way back and tied the set at 19, 20 and 21. But it was all for not as the block of Alex Douglas and Zola Zuccolo picked up two huge points to close out the 25-22 set win.
With Jesuit looking to close the match in four, Brewer simply renamed the set The Emma Brewer set.
The San Diego commit put the Olympians on her back by putting down kills and an assisted block for 11 total points in the fourth. And when she wasn’t scoring at the net, she got the job done in the back row digging out the attacks from Ross and Johnson.
Sprague went up 5-2 early and never relinquished the lead with the closest it got being 22-19.
“I play club with (Brewer) so I’m used to it,” Ross said. “She’s a great opponent. I love playing against her, it’s great to play against amazing athletes. It’s super fun to see that challenge, it’s similar to the last couple of years with (Oregon City’s) Paige Thies.”
That forced a fifth and final set for the 6A title. And ultimately the more experienced team looked the part in the Crusaders.
Jesuit went up 5-2 thanks in part to a couple Olympians mistakes, like an out of rotation penalty on the fourth point of the frame.
Now down 12-5, Sprague started to find its groove, chipping the lead down to 13-11 after a block from Morley and Friesen.
But as Jesuit did all night, it kept setting for its two power hitters and Ross was able to sneak by for one more kill to make it 14-11.
And on match point, Jesuit survived a long rally with a ball into the net on Sprague’s side, securing the match and the Crusaders’ third consecutive crown.
“This team is very gritty, they support each other and they’re together all the way,” Zimmerlee said. “They never quit. Getting into five sets on back-to-back nights is tough, but they’re up for the task. I love this team, very athletic and determined and everyone’s a hard worker.”
Ross finished as the player of the match with 25 kills, three aces and an assisted block while Johnson wasn’t far behind with 21 kills, three aces and a block.
“We work together well, we’ve been playing together for a long time, we’ve been on varsity all four years together,” Johnson said of her connection with Ross. “It’s been a great experience getting to know her. I just know how to play off of her and she knows how to play off of me.”
Brewer had 30 kills on the night with two blocks and two aces to pace the Olympians.
“Some of these girls were already my best friends before I transferred,” Brewer said. “They’ve all been super welcoming and super accepting and brought me in and showed me how to play as an Olympian.
“To be able to help them get this far, which is only the second time in school history – I would be happier with a championship – but I’m very proud of us getting to where we are.”
For Jesuit, the state title not only marks three consecutive, but it gives the Crusaders 10 all-time, the new high-water mark in the state of Oregon. Previously they were tied with Gresham and Santiam Christian at nine.
“All it means to me is that I’ve had fantastic players,” Zimmerlee, who’s helped Jesuit win all 10 as the head coach, said. “Kids that are willing to come to practice every day and try to get a little bit better every day. It belongs to all the teams that have been there that have been tremendous and not afraid to work hard.”
6A placement matches
No. 5 Nelson had been to the semifinals for three consecutive years, so a loss in the quarterfinals was tough to swallow for a strong senior core.
However, the Hawks came back ready to play for another trophy on Saturday, sweeping No. 9 South Medford (25-22, 25-20, 25-19).
On the other side was No. 7 South Eugene, making its first state tournament appearance since 2016 and ready to prove itself. The Axe made quick work of No. 11 Oregon City as well in three sets (25-13, 25-19, 25-21).
In the fourth/sixth place game, the experience won out with the Hawks taking care of business and securing the fourth place finish in three sets (25-14, 25-20, 25-15).
For the third/fifth place match, No. 2 South Salem had been there before, but only lost this match. Meanwhile No. 4 Sheldon was looking to take home bronze after missing the state tournament altogether in 2024.
The two sides split sets before the Saxons grabbed the third, and looked to be on their way toward grabbing the fourth when the Irish rallied to force a fifth.
In the fifth though, the senior core of South Salem won out to take it in five and finish third, the highest the Saxons have ever placed in girls volleyball (25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-7).
austinw@osaa.org
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