No. 6 seed Panthers steamroll Liberty to take a uncommon state playoff victory
As a lot as South Medford’s volleyball crew possible might’ve completed with out Katie Clevenger in its opening spherical recreation of the Class 6A volleyball state playoffs, it positive is good that the Panthers have her to name upon.
Clevenger, a senior outdoors hitter, continued to spark sixth-seeded South Medford on Wednesday, offering 22 kills to assist energy previous Twenty seventh-seeded Liberty and into Saturday’s second spherical with a 25-11, 25-10, 25-13 triumph.
Clevenger additionally completed with seven aces, two blocks and 5 digs for the Panthers (22-6), who completed runner-up within the Southwest Convention and can subsequent play host to No. 11 Central Catholic. The Rams beat No. 22 West Salem 25-12, 25-10, 25-16 on Wednesday.
“She had an ideal recreation tonight, from her serve-receive passing, which she’s been dialing in throughout observe, to some enormous swings she had tonight as nicely,” stated South Medford head coach Robin Akpan.
Whatever the hitting state of affairs, Clevenger hardly ever was denied in opposition to Liberty, which tied for fourth within the Pacific Convention and accomplished its season 9-10 total.
“She had fairly just a few totally different swings tonight,” Akpan stated. “Off the block, into the block, by means of the block, over the block … it was enjoyable. And I really feel like Baylee Davis, our setter, had an excellent displaying tonight in finding the precise spots to set for Katie and all of our different hitters as nicely.”
Davis totaled 41 assists and 4 aces, whereas Lola Horton had seven kills and one block, Brooke Johnston added 5 kills and Naomi Johnson contributed 4 kills and one ace.
Wednesday’s match was the primary state playoff contest hosted by South Medford, in addition to the primary playoff victory in analysis relationship way back to the 2005 season.
“I don’t know when South had a house playoff match earlier than and I don’t know when South has gained a first-round playoff recreation earlier than,” Akpan stated, “so this was an enormous night time for us. If it’s been a very long time or this has been a primary, both method this can be a massive deal for South Medford. It’s actually thrilling that this crew is attending to be those which can be setting these data and attending to expertise the success.”
Taking the following step, although, gained’t be straightforward given Central Catholic’s observe file.
As No. 4 seed final yr, Central Catholic swept South Medford within the first spherical, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16, and ultimately positioned fourth. Curiously, Central Catholic was additionally the Panthers’ first-round foe in its earlier journey to the state playoffs in 2013 and gained in straight units.
“It’s somewhat serendipitous we get to play them,” Akpan stated. “We’re actually excited. We’re hoping to take the following step towards the state championships however we’ve acquired our work minimize out for us on Saturday.”
South Medford jumped out to regular leads in every set in opposition to Liberty to get rid of a lot of the drama.
A pair of service aces by Cameron Christian and 4 kills by Clevenger put the primary set out of distance, with two straight aces by Clevenger clinching the set.
Johnston had a kill and Mayen Akpan equipped a stuff block to maintain a double-digit benefit within the second set for South, which noticed Davis file an ace earlier than a intelligent tip by Clevenger for a kill was adopted by a robust effort to clinch set No. 2.
To assert the third set, Clevenger clinched the victory with a spike that stunned a Liberty participant attempting to bend down for a dig.
OREGON CITY 3, NORTH MEDFORD 1: At Oregon Metropolis, Twenty ninth-seeded North Medford was in a position to pressure a fourth set however noticed its season come to an finish to No. 4 seed Oregon Metropolis in a 25-11, 25-13, 23-25, 25-12 first-round setback within the Class 6A state playoffs.
North senior AJ Brooks completed with seven kills and three blocks, whereas sophomore Paije Carpenter added 5 kills and senior Maddie Blake recorded 12 assists.
Raegan Boice added a pair of aces for North, which ended its season with an 8-14 file.
The Pioneers, who gained the Three Rivers League this season, improved to 23-3.
CASCADE CHRISTIAN 3, NYSSA 0: Cascade Christian junior Madison Todd recorded 17 kills to steer the No. 13-seeded Challengers to a straight-set win over Nyssa, 25-12, 25-16, 25-15, within the first spherical of the Class 3A state playoffs.
Junior Claire Knips had 9 kills and sophomore Poppy Freeman added seven kills for Cascade Christian (17-9). Molly Griffin, a junior, recorded 32 assists, whereas senior Ellie Harrington had 11 digs and 4 aces and junior Sydney Shipman completed with six aces.
Cascade Christian will face fourth-seeded Horizon Christian (19-4) in Tualatin within the second spherical on Saturday.
ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST 3, JORDAN VALLEY 0: Senior Emma Bischoff led the way in which with 17 kills, 4 blocks, 9 digs and 6 aces to energy fifth-seeded Rogue Valley Adventist to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 win within the fist spherical of the Class 1A state playoffs.
Michaela Porter had 9 kills, seven digs, two aces and a block, whereas fellow senior Destinee Quattrocelli chipped in 4 kills, 15 assists and 9 digs for the Pink Tail Hawks, who improved to 21-1 with their fifteenth straight victory.
RVA additionally acquired 15 assists, three digs and an ace from freshman Naomi Jackson.
The Hawks will host No. 21 seed Joseph — which upset Twelfth-seeded Trinity Lutheran on Wednesday — within the second spherical Saturday.
South Medford’s Katherine Clevenger makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Mayenabasi Akpan goes up for a block in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Mayenabasi Akpan goes up for a kill in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Mayenabasi Akpan and Lola Horton go up for a block in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Baylee Davis units the ball for a kill in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Naomi Johnson pushes the ball over the web for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Mayenabasi Akpan and Brooke Johnston go up for a block in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Katherine Clevenger makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Lola Horton makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Katherine Clevenger makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Naomi Johnson makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
South Medford’s Katherine Clevenger makes successful for some extent in opposition to Liberty Wednesday in Medford. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]
