FISHERMEN CRUISE TO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Make that two Astoria teams with league titles and a third hoping to do the same tonight.
Astoria's volleyball team, needing a win over Banks to cinch their second Cowapa title in three years, swept past the visiting Braves 25-13, 25-17, 25-20 to earn the season sweep. With the win, Astoria (13-2 Cowapa League, 14-2 overall) avoided a 3-way tie for first, finishing a game ahead of Tillamook (12-3, 12-3) and two games ahead of the Braves (11-4, 12-4).
"We kind of did the whole pregame speech yesterday," said head coach Angee Hunt. "Today was more about action than words. That was the theme of the last couple of days, that we can say things but we have step out onto the floor and do it.
"Defense was a big priority for us tonight. I think every long rally there was, we came out on top of."
Astoria dominated from the outset. After Banks took a 1-0 lead on an Andrea O'Connor kill, Astoria's Kristin Saulsbury earned a side out with a kill and served a point for a 2-1 lead. The Fishermen never trailed again in game one as Saulsbury racked up three more kills and junior teammate Sophie DeWitt added five kills. Four of Banks 13 points came on Astoria service errors.
Astoria again dominated in game two as the Braves appeared lackluster and lifeless, as if they were resigned to a third place finish. Maybe they were. The Cowapa League's second place team must beat North Bend at North Bend to get to the state finals at Lane Community College. At least this way, Banks can avoid playing the second-ranked Bulldogs in their house, instead facing the Baker Bulldogs if they get to the second round of the state tournament.
Rachel Gascoigne matched her game one output with 11 assists, with DeWitt and Saulsbury equalling their game one stats with five and four kills respectively.
The Braves finally showed signs of life in game three, taking a 12-5 lead as Astoria struggled with the basics. O'Connor served three aces in a 5-point run to put Banks up 7-3, then later Meredith Barnes and DeWitt each whiffed on routine hits as Banks took a 7-point lead. But three straight Braves errors got the ball rolling Astoria's way again. Saulsbury had two kills to bring the Fish within two at 11-13. After a fluky bump return for a kill and a wide shot by Wendi Agalzoff put the Braves up 15-11, a service error returned the ball to Astoria's side of the net. Senior DS Amelia Hernandez served three straight points to tie the game at 15. The teams alternated points until Hilary O'Bryan served out the match with four straight points. Saulsbury salted it away with a tip-kill, her 12th of the night.
"If we didn't take care of this, we were prepared for a mess," said the junior opposite hitter, "but we came to play. I'm just so ecstatic about this."
DeWitt, also part of a strong junior core on the team, finished with a team-high 14 kills.
"This year compared to last year it's amazing the difference," said the all-league outside hitter, who is Astoria's only year-round volleyball player. "Angee has done a real good job helping us along the way to develop, but definitely this year we have stepped it up. We've matured and have a better sense of the game."
Astoria has more than a week to prepare for its next opponent. The Douglas Trojans were the Far West League runners-up, losing only to powerful North Bend in league play. Douglas played a challenging schedule, facing a number of 5A and 6A schools, winning against several. The Trojans also took two out of three games against a highly-regarded Henley team at a tournament.
Astoria and Douglas will play Saturday, Nov. 4 at Astoria High School. The game time will be determined, but will start no earlier than 5:00 p.m. and will also be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. The winner clinches a berth in the state quarterfinals at Lane Community College on Friday, Nov. 10.
Astoria's volleyball team, needing a win over Banks to cinch their second Cowapa title in three years, swept past the visiting Braves 25-13, 25-17, 25-20 to earn the season sweep. With the win, Astoria (13-2 Cowapa League, 14-2 overall) avoided a 3-way tie for first, finishing a game ahead of Tillamook (12-3, 12-3) and two games ahead of the Braves (11-4, 12-4).
"We kind of did the whole pregame speech yesterday," said head coach Angee Hunt. "Today was more about action than words. That was the theme of the last couple of days, that we can say things but we have step out onto the floor and do it.
"Defense was a big priority for us tonight. I think every long rally there was, we came out on top of."
Astoria dominated from the outset. After Banks took a 1-0 lead on an Andrea O'Connor kill, Astoria's Kristin Saulsbury earned a side out with a kill and served a point for a 2-1 lead. The Fishermen never trailed again in game one as Saulsbury racked up three more kills and junior teammate Sophie DeWitt added five kills. Four of Banks 13 points came on Astoria service errors.
Astoria again dominated in game two as the Braves appeared lackluster and lifeless, as if they were resigned to a third place finish. Maybe they were. The Cowapa League's second place team must beat North Bend at North Bend to get to the state finals at Lane Community College. At least this way, Banks can avoid playing the second-ranked Bulldogs in their house, instead facing the Baker Bulldogs if they get to the second round of the state tournament.
Rachel Gascoigne matched her game one output with 11 assists, with DeWitt and Saulsbury equalling their game one stats with five and four kills respectively.
The Braves finally showed signs of life in game three, taking a 12-5 lead as Astoria struggled with the basics. O'Connor served three aces in a 5-point run to put Banks up 7-3, then later Meredith Barnes and DeWitt each whiffed on routine hits as Banks took a 7-point lead. But three straight Braves errors got the ball rolling Astoria's way again. Saulsbury had two kills to bring the Fish within two at 11-13. After a fluky bump return for a kill and a wide shot by Wendi Agalzoff put the Braves up 15-11, a service error returned the ball to Astoria's side of the net. Senior DS Amelia Hernandez served three straight points to tie the game at 15. The teams alternated points until Hilary O'Bryan served out the match with four straight points. Saulsbury salted it away with a tip-kill, her 12th of the night.
"If we didn't take care of this, we were prepared for a mess," said the junior opposite hitter, "but we came to play. I'm just so ecstatic about this."
DeWitt, also part of a strong junior core on the team, finished with a team-high 14 kills.
"This year compared to last year it's amazing the difference," said the all-league outside hitter, who is Astoria's only year-round volleyball player. "Angee has done a real good job helping us along the way to develop, but definitely this year we have stepped it up. We've matured and have a better sense of the game."
Astoria has more than a week to prepare for its next opponent. The Douglas Trojans were the Far West League runners-up, losing only to powerful North Bend in league play. Douglas played a challenging schedule, facing a number of 5A and 6A schools, winning against several. The Trojans also took two out of three games against a highly-regarded Henley team at a tournament.
Astoria and Douglas will play Saturday, Nov. 4 at Astoria High School. The game time will be determined, but will start no earlier than 5:00 p.m. and will also be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. The winner clinches a berth in the state quarterfinals at Lane Community College on Friday, Nov. 10.
posted by Matt Richert at 10:21 AM
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