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Powers secures spot in Class 1A playoffs
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Monday, November 02, 2009 | No comments posted.
COQUILLE — The volleyball playoffs are becoming an annual tradition for Powers.
The Cruisers won a tough match with South Coast rival Pacific during the Skyline League tournament Saturday at Coquille High School to earn a spot in the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
“I feel like it’s great,” said Powers senior Liz Linderman after helping the Cruisers edge the Pirates 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-20. “It really brings up our team a lot to know we’re in the playoffs.”
The win over Pacific guaranteed Powers a spot in the playoffs. The Cruisers then just missed a chance to move up to the league’s No. 2 seed, losing a five-set marathon to Elkton in the final match Saturday. Elkton earlier lost to Days Creek in the battle for the top seed.
Powers opens the playoffs on Wednesday at Southwest Christian, a private school in Beaverton that upset Valley 10 regular-season champion North Clackamas Christian to advance to the playoffs.
The Cruisers weren’t concerned so much with their opponent Saturday as they were with just advancing to the playoffs.
“We’ve really come together,” said Ashlee Blanton. “We’ve worked hard every practice to make it this far.”
Powers had to overcome a scrappy effort by Pacific.
The Pirates led the first game 23-21 before a service error opened the door for the Cruisers. Powers finished with an ace by Blanton, a kill by LeeAnna Sears and a kill by Taylor Stallard.
Powers cruised through the second game, but Pacific dominated the third, with Devon Ashdown having three straight aces to give the Pirates a 21-13 lead. Stallard clinched the victory with a kill to end the final game.
Linderman said she was a little nervous after Pacific’s win in the third game, but that the Cruisers bounced back quickly.
“We ended up bringing it back up,” she said. “Our hitting was on. Our setting and passing were good.”
The Cruisers graduated a strong group of seniors last year, but haven’t missed a beat.
“I think we play better as a team this year,” Linderman said.
The Cruisers also were able to fill a vital position that was a question mark at the start of the season.
“KC (Carter) has really stepped up as setter,” said Blanton.
Pacific, meanwhile, saw its season end after a late five-match win streak enabled the Pirates to reach the league playoffs.
“It is a disappointment and obviously stings,” said Pacific coach Tiffany Freitag, but she quickly added the Pirates have a lot to be pleased about.
“It’s been a dozen years since Pacific made it to the playoffs,” she said. “Once the sting wears off, it’s going to be great memories all around.”
She said Saturday’s match was the best of the three against the Cruisers this year, and that the team shocked everybody by finishing 5-7 in Skyline League play after starting 2-6.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” she said.
Ashdown finished with 14 aces, six assists and seven digs. Jesse Culley and Jessie Paulson had five kills each. Culley also had three blocks and 10 digs and Jordan White added 10 digs.
After the Pacific match, Powers fell to Elkton 17-25, 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 19-17.
“My girls played so hard and gave it everything they had,” said Powers coach Beth Rector. “We played very well. It just didn’t go our way.
“We were tired from the first match, but still my girls looked good and we were playing some of the best volleyball we’ve played all season. I was very proud of them.”
Linderman had 26 kills, 17 digs and eight aces during the day.
Carter had 28 digs, 15 assists and five aces, while Merri Ray had 15 assists. Sears had 24 digs, five aces and eight kills and Blanton had six kills and 16 digs.
“It was a really good tournament for us,” Rector said.
Linderman, Sears and Carter all were named to the all-tournament team. In the all-league honors, Linderman was a first-team pick, while Carter and Blanton were second team and Ray was honorable mention.
For Pacific, Ashdown and Culley were named to the all-tournament team. Culley made first team for the season all-league honors, while Ashdown was second team and White received honorable mention.
The Cruisers won a tough match with South Coast rival Pacific during the Skyline League tournament Saturday at Coquille High School to earn a spot in the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
“I feel like it’s great,” said Powers senior Liz Linderman after helping the Cruisers edge the Pirates 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-20. “It really brings up our team a lot to know we’re in the playoffs.”
The win over Pacific guaranteed Powers a spot in the playoffs. The Cruisers then just missed a chance to move up to the league’s No. 2 seed, losing a five-set marathon to Elkton in the final match Saturday. Elkton earlier lost to Days Creek in the battle for the top seed.
Powers opens the playoffs on Wednesday at Southwest Christian, a private school in Beaverton that upset Valley 10 regular-season champion North Clackamas Christian to advance to the playoffs.
The Cruisers weren’t concerned so much with their opponent Saturday as they were with just advancing to the playoffs.
“We’ve really come together,” said Ashlee Blanton. “We’ve worked hard every practice to make it this far.”
Powers had to overcome a scrappy effort by Pacific.
The Pirates led the first game 23-21 before a service error opened the door for the Cruisers. Powers finished with an ace by Blanton, a kill by LeeAnna Sears and a kill by Taylor Stallard.
Powers cruised through the second game, but Pacific dominated the third, with Devon Ashdown having three straight aces to give the Pirates a 21-13 lead. Stallard clinched the victory with a kill to end the final game.
Linderman said she was a little nervous after Pacific’s win in the third game, but that the Cruisers bounced back quickly.
“We ended up bringing it back up,” she said. “Our hitting was on. Our setting and passing were good.”
The Cruisers graduated a strong group of seniors last year, but haven’t missed a beat.
“I think we play better as a team this year,” Linderman said.
The Cruisers also were able to fill a vital position that was a question mark at the start of the season.
“KC (Carter) has really stepped up as setter,” said Blanton.
Pacific, meanwhile, saw its season end after a late five-match win streak enabled the Pirates to reach the league playoffs.
“It is a disappointment and obviously stings,” said Pacific coach Tiffany Freitag, but she quickly added the Pirates have a lot to be pleased about.
“It’s been a dozen years since Pacific made it to the playoffs,” she said. “Once the sting wears off, it’s going to be great memories all around.”
She said Saturday’s match was the best of the three against the Cruisers this year, and that the team shocked everybody by finishing 5-7 in Skyline League play after starting 2-6.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” she said.
Ashdown finished with 14 aces, six assists and seven digs. Jesse Culley and Jessie Paulson had five kills each. Culley also had three blocks and 10 digs and Jordan White added 10 digs.
After the Pacific match, Powers fell to Elkton 17-25, 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 19-17.
“My girls played so hard and gave it everything they had,” said Powers coach Beth Rector. “We played very well. It just didn’t go our way.
“We were tired from the first match, but still my girls looked good and we were playing some of the best volleyball we’ve played all season. I was very proud of them.”
Linderman had 26 kills, 17 digs and eight aces during the day.
Carter had 28 digs, 15 assists and five aces, while Merri Ray had 15 assists. Sears had 24 digs, five aces and eight kills and Blanton had six kills and 16 digs.
“It was a really good tournament for us,” Rector said.
Linderman, Sears and Carter all were named to the all-tournament team. In the all-league honors, Linderman was a first-team pick, while Carter and Blanton were second team and Ray was honorable mention.
For Pacific, Ashdown and Culley were named to the all-tournament team. Culley made first team for the season all-league honors, while Ashdown was second team and White received honorable mention.
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