Burns players celebrate after beating Dayton in Saturday's championship match. (Rick Osborn Photo)

BY RICK OSBORN

COOS BAY – Top-seeded Burns won its third 3A state volleyball title in the past six years by knocking off second-ranked Dayton 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 25-21 in a barn-burner on Saturday night at Marshfield High School’s Pirate Palace.

When Burns won its title in 2021, co-head coach Courtney Toney was an assistant. This year, serving alongside her mother, co-head coach Paula Toney, the Hilanders delivered again. Courtney Toney gave credit to the seniors on the squad.

“They responded pretty well and we have a really strong nucleus and that’s due to our seniors,” Courtney Toney said. “There was Bailey Temple, she was all over the court and she got a lot of digs and Amaya Ballard was a great anchor, as well. And Shelby Peasley, she had some really big plays that added to the thrill of it.”

Dayton came out strong in the first set, going up 3-0, led primarily by a strong performance from Gabby Chupp, who was a first team all-tournament player for the Pirates. Dayton controlled most of the first set, leading by as many as seven. But Burns started clawing back into the contest when junior hitter Megan Weil had seven kills down the stretch to put Burns ahead for good.

“Megan Weil will be back for more (next year) and when she hits the ball, you can hear it,” Toney said. “It’s like thunder. It’s a lot of fun.”

Two consecutive kills by Weil tied the set at 17, and she contributed a few more down the stretch to help the Hilanders rise to a 21-18 lead. Net violations plagued the Pirates through the match, and helped Burns stay ahead throughout. Coral Avarett put the first set away with a strong kill, after contributing mightily down the stretch.

After Dayton won the second set, Burns seized the momentum in the third set and never relinquished it. Two consecutive ace serves by Avarett put the Hilanders up 17-9. She wrapped the up the set with a kill to go up 2-1 in match play.

Two more ace serves by Natalee Otley-Smith, a senior, put Burns up 2-0 to start the fourth and final game of the match. An ace by Burns’ Ballard put the Hilanders up 15-9. Burns held on to ice the victory on a vicious kill by Weil, sending the Hilanders into a raucous celebration.

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due; Burns is a phenomenal team,” Dayton coach Samantha Alexander said. “I’m really proud of our girls for trying to fight with them and staying in it and doing it little by little. … We started strong and we can battle. I’m proud of how we played and I’m not mad at the outcome in terms of the way we played. I just wish we could have forced a fifth game.”

The Pirates got splendid performances from several players, including junior Kalysta Summerlin. The 6-foot junior was solid at the net with numerous kills and several blocks. Weil and Chupp were named players of the game for their efforts.

Other Trophy Matches

In other matches on Saturday, fourth-ranked Sisters upset Catlin Gabel 25-12, 24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 15-7 for the third-place trophy and Creswell knocked off Westside Christian 25-21, 13-25, 27-25, 25-22 to claim the fourth-place spot. Earlier in the day, Creswell beat Coquille 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 and Westside Christian swept Santiam Christian 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 in the consolation semifinals.

Tournament Honors

Weil was the only unanimous pick to the all-tournament team, voted on by the coaches, and was joined on the first team by teammate Temple, Datyon’s Chupp and Summerlin, Piper Hanson of Creswell and Catlin Gabel’s Maliha Rajan.

The second team included Baileigh Nisbet of Burns, Maddie Miguez of Dayton, Sisters teammates Maici Cotner and Alli Fogarty, Westside Christian’s Eliana Dresser and Santiam Christian’s Sydney Ball.

Sisters received the sportsmanship trophy.