Vale netters win playoff over Grant Union and Riverside
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:14 AM PST
Baker City —The Vale Viking volleyball team rose to the occasion Tuesday with back-to-back wins to capture the No. 2 seed from the Eastern Oregon League.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Vale, Grant Union and Riverside were in a three-way tie and a playoff was needed to determine, which two teams would advance to the 3A state playoffs, which begin Saturday.
A drawing was needed to determine how the playoff would take place.
The first two teams to be drawn would play the first game, with the loser being eliminated and the winner advancing to play the team that was not drawn.
Vale and Grant Union drew the short sticks and had to square off first, leaving Riverside awaiting the winner.
In the first playoff match, the Vikings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead,winning Game 1, 25-15, and Game 2, 25-23. However, Grant Union was not ready to be eliminated and battled back to win Games 3 and 4, 25-21 and 25-22, to force the decisive fifth game.
In that game, Vale was victorious with a 15-10 decision.
“After winning those first two games against Grant Union, then dropping the next two games, the girls did not panic,” Vale head coach Maryann Standage said. “They just went out and did what they needed to do.”
Next came Riverside, and the Vikings wasted no time or energy with the Pirates and dispatched Riverside in three straight games for the 3-0 match win.
With the two victories in the playoffs, the Vikings secured the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 4 team in the opening round of the class 3A state playoffs in Creswell Saturday. The game time has yet to be decided.
“Every match, going back to our road trip to Grant Union on Oct. 29 has been important,” Standage said. “We lost that match 3-2, but since then we have won four straight matches to get where we are today.”
Heading into the state tournament, Standage said her team still has some finishing touches to polish up.
“What has been exciting for us over the last four games is how many girls are getting involved with our offense,” Standage said. “We have had 10 of our 14 girls log kills in these four wins. That makes it real hard for the opponent to defend us. We have to continue to spread the offense around when we compete at the state tournament.”
Standage praised the leadership of her seniors, Shelbi Mooney, Mckenzie Marcum, Mary Pozzi and Amanda Schlupe.
“These girls have to keep the momentum going,” Standage said. “They have to remain calm on the floor.”
