Nikki Gross sets up one of the Marshfield outside hitters during their game with Roseburg on Thursday. World Photo by Lou Sennick.

Marshfield played even with visiting Roseburg for two games before injuries caught up with the Pirates and the Indians pulled out a four-game victory.

The Indians won 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-9 in the Pirates’ season opener.

Marshfield started the game without two players who had been injured previously and lost setter Nikki Gross to an ankle injury on the final point of the second game, coach Tammie Montiel said.

Katleyn Richmond, herself nursing an injury, stepped in for Gross and did a good job, Montiel said. But with several players already out of their normal positions, the Pirates couldn’t keep up with the Indians over the final two games.

“It was a good test to start the season to know how they are going to respond to things not quite going how they expected,” Montiel said.

Jessica Hockema had eight kills and Natalie Caffey added seven kills and three aces for the Pirates. Gross had 11 assists and Richmond added seven.

Libero Brittney Young had 15 digs.

“She played really well defensively and made some incredible saves on balls that you thought were going to be down,” Montiel said.

The Pirates already were without freshman Kasey Kuhn, who fractured her wrist two weeks ago, and sophomore Amber Owen, who has a pulled groin. Those are two of the Pirates’ three regular outside hitters.

Devan Belshe had 17 kills for Roseburg, while Lynsey Johnson had 23 assists.

The Pirates will next compete Saturday at the Roseburg Invitational, then visit North Bend for the annual Civil War match on Tuesday.

Devils top Lancers

Coquille beat visiting South Umpqua, 23-25, 25-16, 25-14, 15-25, 15-6 in a nonleague match.

Nikki Hall had 13 kills for the Red Devils. Stephanie Jones added nine kills and 20 digs. Chelsey Forbes had six kills and 32 assists.

Coquille coach Troy Cooper said the Red Devils were confident after several big rallies in Tuesday’s win over Waldport.

“They did really nice work,” he said. “We’re dealing with a little bit of inconsistency here and there, but we are a young team, with only two seniors.”

In the fifth game, Hall and Jones controlled the tempo with several kills to help Coquille clinch the win, Cooper said.

Braves get victory

Reedsport opened the season on a winning note, topping host Waldport in four games Thursday.

The Braves won 17-25, 25-17, 25-9, 25-22.

Jessica Cooper had 13 kills and two blocks and Eden Huebner added nine kills and two blocks. Chelsea Hitchcock had 16 assists and Shelby Wiggans had 19 digs.

The Braves host their own invitational on Saturday.

Vikings win

Siuslaw beat host Junciton City 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 in the Vikings’ season opener.

Seabre Church had five kills for the Vikings and Leigh Aurich added four aces.

Siuslaw competes in the Reedsport Invitational on Saturday.

Skyline League

Cruisers win opener

Powers beat host New Hope 25-14, 25-12, 25-19 in the Cruisers’ season and Skyline League opener Thursday at Grants Pass.

“We came out strong and confident and played as a team the whole match,” said Powers coach Beth Rector. “It was great to see us get started off on the right foot.”

Haley Patterson had eight aces and six assists for the Cruisers. Nicole Bittner added three aces, three kills and one block and Ashley Blanton had four aces and three kills.

“We served pretty hard and passed well,” Rector said.

The Cruisers host Canyonville Christian Academy next Tuesday and Days Creek the following night.

Wolves top Pirates

Pacific fell to visiting Days Creek 25-10, 25-7, 25-11 in the league opener for the schools.

K’Dean Ramos had nine aces and 19 assists for the Wolves.

BOYS SOCCER

Pirates, Eagles tie

Marshfield played to a 2-2 draw with host Eagle Point in a nonleague match on Thursday.

The Pirates appeared headed for victory until Eagle Point evened the match with a goal in the 78th minute.

Both Marshfield goals came from Brian Melgar, who scored on a penalty kick in the 28th minute and added another goal in the 45th.

Marshfield had 18 shots to 11 for the Eagles.

The Pirates play Summit in Bend on Saturday.

Bulldogs and Falcons tie

North Bend and visiting Elmira tied 1-1 in a nonleague match Thursday night at North Bend.

Elmira had a late goal to tie the match.

Billy Rempelos scored North Bend’s goal in the first half on an assist from Jeramy Dubisar.

“We played better,” North Bend coach Blaine Deming said of the Bulldogs’ second game, which followed a loss to Marshfield on Tuesday. “We had lots of shots on goal. They just didn’t happen.”

The Bulldogs, 0-1-1 on the season, are at the Catlin Gabel jamboree on Saturday before starting league play next Thursday against South Umpqua. The Bulldogs have a bye on the opening day of league play Tuesday, when North Bend’s girls host Umpqua Valley Christian.

Monarchs edge Devils

Coquille was unable to rally from a 4-0 halftime deficit, coming up just short in a 5-4 loss to visiting Umpqua Valley Christian on Thursday.

Ryan Dannels had a hat trick for Coquille, with goals in the 60th, 61st and 72nd minutes. Mauro Sakuma scored Coquille’s first goal in the 44th minute.

Coquille coach Randy Lucas said the difference in the match was that UVC had better intensity.

“The first half was nerves, and when we settled in the second half, I think we played far better.”

GIRLS SOCCER

Pirates fall on road

South Albany beat visiting Marshfield 3-0 in a nonleague match Thursday.

“We are learning a new system this year and our girls are doing a good job, but we still have a few rough spots to iron out,”said Marshfield coach Kitty DeMoss. “This was an excellent opportunity for our younger players to get some minutes under pressure.”

DeMoss praised the efforts of senior captain Catherine Bones, as well as junior Hannah Francis and freshman Josie Berger.

The Pirates are off until facing Thurston in the league opener on Sept. 16.

CROSS COUNTRY

Bulldogs second

Trevor Berrian just missed the individual title and North Bend’s boys came up second behind Thurston in the annual Midwestern League preview meet at Dorris Ranch at Springfield on Thursday.

Berrian and Thurston’s Michael Bennett easily beat the rest of the pack in the 4,000-meter race, with Bennett edging Berrian by a second. Bennett was timed in 13 minutes and 21 seconds, with Berrian in 13:22.

North Bend’s Sam Lynass was fifth and Dan Flora eighth, but Thurston took the team title with 29 points. North Bend had 37 and third-place Marshfield had 60. Andrew Davidson led the Pirates with a ninth-place effort.

Churchill’s Sydnie Johnson dominated the girls race, winning in 15:51. Marshfield’s Jana Sadler was third in 17:18, with teammate Tori Scott sixth.

Springfield edged the Pirates for the team title — 34 points to 36.

Both Marshfield and North Bend will be back in action on Tuesday at Tugman State Park near Lakeside for the Tugman Invitational.

Oakland Invitational

Brandon Lemerande took the individual title and three of his Bandon teammates finished in the top five at the Oakland Invitational.

Lemerande finished the 3,000-meter course in 11:18. Gerald Davis, Isaac Taylor and Jared Watkins finished third through fifth.

Reedsport had three of the top 10, with Justin Halstead sixth, Duncan Law seventh and Alan Roy ninth.

Sutherlin’s Chelsea Spencer won the girls race in 12:40 and the Bulldogs had seven of the top 10 finishers. Bandon’s Katie Neis was third, one spot in front of teammate Megan Haueter. Reedsport’s Hanna Reisner was ninth.