Ontario netters put up valiant fight but come up short for tournament bid
Lady Tigers honor eight seniors in season finale
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Friday, October 30, 2009 9:10 AM PDT
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| Scott Ford | Argus Observer
Ontario’s Keisha Mauer (8) and Erika Hopper go up against a La Grande player on a block attempt during the Tigers final game of the regular season. Ontraio needed a win to advance to the state tournament, but lost 3-2. |
Ontario—A state tournament bid came down to one game and one win.
If the Ontario girls volleyball team could out-serve, out-spike and out-volley the La Grande Tigers then they would earn a trip to the Oregon 4A state volleyball tournament.
That was the goal going into the game, but La Grande had the same goal, and La Grande showed up ready to play, winning the first two games 25-23 and 25-23, and putting Ontario in a do-or-die situation.
Dying was not an option, and Ontario came back with a vengeance winning games three and four 25-13 and 25-17 to force the decisive fifth game.
After an intense battle during Ontario’s senior night, it was La Grande that would move onto the state tournament with a 15-12 win.
“We did not show up ready to play in those first two games,” Ontario head coach Katie Branch said. “We were slow on defense, and they (La Grande) made us pay for it. And yet we still were right there in those games too. It was enough to get you mad. We just have to finish those games.”
The senior-heavy team, eight in all came to life in Game 3 and took control of the momentum and even in the final match, the Ontario Lady Tigers were playing with some added spunk. However, a couple of unforced errors late in the contest sealed Ontario’s fate in the season ending loss.
“It’s been such an honor to be apart of this team this year,” Branch said. “These girls have come so far this year. It was an awesome experience. They came together as a team, but we just came up short tonight, but I am real proud of them.”
Senior captain Hailey Reever led the team in assists despite the loss, and she said her senior year was great.
“This game meant a lot to us seniors. We are all such good friends, and we wanted to win this game real bad so we could keep playing,” Reever said. “It was a great season, and I would not trade my team for the world.”
Kendra Babcock, another senior captain echoed Reevers’ feelings about the team and the season, but added, “We have had an intense week coming into this game, but we just made too many mistakes tonight.”
Ontario has lost three of four matches to La Grande this year.
“La Grande is a talented team. But so are we,” Babcock said. “It’s been a dog fight every time we have played.”
Senior Ali Babij and Leila Feibert led the team in kills with nine each. Taylor Laubacher, Reeves and Feibert each logged three aces in the five-game set, while Babij added four solo blocks.
Senior Ashley Rock assisted the offense with 13 digs in her final game as an Ontario Tiger.
“I am real proud of these girls. They played hard for me all season,” Branch said.
The other seniors on the team include Justine Maede, Reanna Culjat, Keisha Mauer and Erika Hopper.
