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Photo by Brett Stanley/The Advocate
MHCC freshman Kyra Speer spikes the ball during round-robin play during Halloween weekend’s Dorian Harris Halloween Classic. The Saints went on to win the tournament against the Blue Mountain Timberwolves in four sets.
Saints win final tournament of the season
The Advocate
After the frustration of not going past the first round in any tournament this year, the MHCC volleyball team won its own tournament last weekend, defeating the Blue Mountain Community College Timberwolves in the finals of the Dorian Harris Halloween Classic in four sets, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19 and 25-17.
“I was really excited,” said Head Coach Chelsie Freeman. “I was proud of how well we played and watching them give their all.”
The women posted a 5-0 record, starting with an opening round win against conference rivals the Chemeketa Storm in three sets, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-17.
“It was nice to beat them in three sets,” said Freeman. The Saints had opened the regular season against the Storm going to five sets to get the victory. “We won’t take them lightly. Their middle went down like two points in the match with spraining her ankle but it will be a battle for us on (Nov. 10).”
On the way to the finals, the Saints faced off against the Columbia Basin Hawks, routing them in three sets, 25-21, 25-20, 25-12. That set up the final showdown with the number one team in the East, the Blue Mountain Timberwolves.
“They are good,” said Freeman. “They are big and have a fast offense. We just played really well defensively. Just watching our team play this weekend, I thought we could have played another match we were so good.”
As for who the Saints will play in the NWAACC tournament, they will likely see Blue Mountain again in the later rounds. The Timberwolves head coach Dave Baty was quoted in the East Oregonian newspaper last week saying he plans on playing Tacoma in the NWAACC finals. However, the Timberwolves would have to get past the Saints to get to a final match against Tacoma.
“If we play our A-game, I think we will do fine,” Baty told The Advocate Wednesday. “But if we don’t, we will definitely struggle in the tournament.”
Baty said the Timberwolves were hobbled in the final match of the MHCC tournament because of an injury to his best outside hitter, KC Schmit, who sat out with a concussion after falling on her head in the first match of round-robin play against Chemeketa.
“There was nothing too dramatic with how we played,” said Baty. “We have won with that line-up we played with.”
Freeman’s view on Blue Mountain? “I hope he respects our play now,” she said.
The women have their final home game tonight against the Clackamas Community College Cougars at 7 p.m. The Saints beat the Cougars earlier in the season at Clackamas in three sets. This is the last home match of the season and it is Sophomore Night. Honored for their play with the Saints will be setter Liz Williams and outside hitters Jaci Chew-Dorsey and Kelsey Bordewyk.
The Saints will try to finish the season undefeated against the Chemeketa Storm in Salem on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
As for getting set for the NWAACC tournament at the end of the season, Freeman is happy with the Saints play last weekend and feels the team is now ready to win an NWAACC title.
“This was our last tournament before NWAACCs,” said Freeman. “We showed up and played and that is what I cared most about going into NWAACCs.”
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