North Bend’s Alexandra Mateski spikes the ball over the net with Hidden Valley’s Haley Fikso and Jayna Lack on the defensive end of the play on Saturday during the Marshfield Invitational Volleyball Tournament, held in various locations in Coos Bay and North Bend. World Photo by Lou Sennick.

The inaugural Marshfield Invitational Volleyball Tournament turned into a showcase for one of the better small-school programs in the state.

Valley Catholic, one of just two Class 3A schools in the varsity tournament, never lost a game Saturday, winning the 16-team tournament. The Valiants beat Hidden Valley, a Class 4A school, in the championship match.

The two Bay Area schools were eliminated by the finalists.

Hidden Valley tipped Marshfield in the semifinals, 25-17, 19-25, 15-11. Valley Catholic beat North Bend in the quarterfinals, 25-21, 25-22.

The championship match capped a long day, which had included three two-game matches in morning pool play and three rounds of bracket play.

Valley Catholic coach Nolan Hee was thrilled with how his team played throughout the day, sweeping every opponent.

“The girls played amazing today,” Hee said. “The blocking was on. Our passing was sharp. The hitting was strong.

“We were just clicking. It’s good to be clicking this time of the season.”

The tournament was the last big event for the teams as they prepare to finish league play and, for those who qualify, participate in the playoffs.

“To be able to be as successful as we were today, that’s an amazing step for our kids,” Hee said.

The invitational, which included a junior varsity tournament at the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon and a freshman event at North Bend High School, received strong reviews.

Hee was surprised to hear it was the first time the tournament had been held.

“I think they ran it really well,” he said. “It was one of the best tournaments I’ve been in.

“It was a lot of fun. The facilities are really good.”

“I think overall, it was a success for our first run,” said Marshfield head coach Tammie Montiel. “We found a few things we need to do differently for next year.”

The event included seven South Coast schools.

Along with North Bend and Marshfield, Siuslaw and Myrtle Point competed in the varsity tournament. The Bobcats beat the Vikings in the first round of the consolation bracket, and then beat Grants Pass before losing in the consolation final to Liberty, 25-10, 19-25, 15-12.

“I was pleased with the girls’ performance,” said Myrtle Point coach Kami Hixson. “Many of the coaches commented on their play, so it is nice to see their hard work being (recognized) by others.”

Coquille, Reedsport and Bandon, meanwhile, had their varsity teams in the junior varsity bracket, and all performed well.

Coquille was undefeated during the day, sweeping six straight opponents, including Bandon in the final.

The closest Coquille came to losing a game was in the first game of that final, when Bandon led 23-17 before Coquille rallied for a 29-27 win. The Red Devils won the second game 25-20.

“It was a fun tournament for us,” said Coquille coach Troy Cooper, adding that the final was fun even though it was against a familiar foe.

“We like playing against Bandon,” he said.

Cooper said his team’s two seniors — Stephanie Jones and Lindsey Cooper — both had strong tournaments.

Bandon coach Shani Pierce did not have any regrets about playing in the junior varsity tournament with her varsity club, which includes just two seniors like Coquille.

“In the (varsity) tournament, it would have been like playing Cascade Christian every match,” Pierce said, referring to the unbeaten Sunset Conference champions.

Pierce’s team beat Reedsport in a marathon semifinal match, 27-29, 30-28, 15-11.

“They played better tonight than they played all last week,” Pierce said.

North Bend beat Far West League rival Douglas in the consolation match of the JV tournament. The two JV squads, along with their varsity counterparts, will battle again Tuesday in a regular league match at Winston.

Marshfield won its morning pool in the varsity bracket, beating Sutherlin and Siuslaw and splitting its two games with Dallas. The Pirates then beat South Medford before losing to Hidden Valley in the semifinals.

Montiel was happy with how her team played, especially since Marshfield was without its regular libero, Brittney Young, who was sitting out because of an injured wrist. Katelyn Richmond took her place in the lineup for the day.

“We found some things we need to work on for our last two league games and the playoffs,” said Montiel, whose team finishes the season at Willamette on Tuesday and home against Springfield on Thursday. Wins in both matches would secure a Midwestern League title for the Pirates.

North Bend finishes with the match at Douglas on Tuesday and a home match against Siuslaw on Thursday and can move into a tie for first place with two wins.

The Bulldogs were second in their pool Saturday, but lost only two games, both by close margins.

The Bulldogs swept Crater; split with North Salem 25-12, 26-27; and split with Hidden Valley, 27-25, 23-25. That left North Bend as the No. 2 team in the pool, and facing Valley Catholic in the quarterfinals of the bracket.

The Bulldogs rallied late before losing the first game against the Valiants, and lost a late lead in the second game, but North Bend coach Les Willett wasn’t disappointed.

“We lost to a pretty good team,” he said. “I was proud of the way they played. The most we lost by was four points.”

Alexandra Mateski had nine straight kills to close the first game against Hidden Valley and finished the day with 43 kills. Haley Dunham had 29 kills and eight aces and Katie Banta had 70 assists and seven kills.

Willett, like other area coaches, was happy to have the tournament in Coos Bay after other tournaments at Roseburg and Marist, and at Medford and Seaside in previous years.

“It’s nice,” he said of not having to travel. “These guys are pretty good hosts.”

Marshfield beat North Bend in a three-game final to win the freshman tournament.