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Saints keep on rolling through competition in the South
The Advocate
The Saints volleyball team continued to dominate the Southern Region with another victory Oct. 1 against the Linn-Benton Roadrunners at home.
The Saints, who hold a perfect record in conference play (4-0, 20-4 overall), swept the Roadrunners in three straight games (25-16, 25-17, 28-26).
Game three in the match proved to be a fight. The Roadrunners, down two games, came out determined.
"I told the girls they would come out strong because they had nothing to lose. In that game, they got off to a great start," said Coach Chelsie Speer. "Like I've said before, you never know, so we were on our toes."
For the second game in a row, co-captain Kyra Speer and freshmen Devan Belshe had double-digit kills (Speer with 10, Belshe 16). The co-captain said this accomplishment is not because of one or two players, but rather a team effort.
"Without Chelsie (coaching us) in the (background) or Rylie (Engelson) and Jenny (Gruelle) in the middle setting us up, we couldn't have those kills. Everyone on the court does their job," said the co-captain.
The Saints, who have been playing without their other co-captain, Haley Leithem, since her ankle injury at the Walla Walla Tournament this year (Sept. 17), continue to receive support from Leithem even though she's unable to play alongside them.
"Haley is very vocal and loud," laughed Kyra Speer. "We can always count on her playing a big role. She's someone we all feed off."
With a perfect record in the South Region, the team prepares to play their rivals, the Clackamas Community College Cougars, tonight at home.
The team's goal of going undefeated in the region makes tonight's match a marquee game. The Saints, who have already beaten every other team in their conference, must get the victory tonight to keep their record perfect.
"Our goal is still there. We have to play all the teams we've played again, but first we've got to get through Clackamas," said Kyra Speer. "We are working everyday and still giving 100 percent. There's still a lot of season for us."
In the past, coach Speer worried about her team being too hard on themselves and mentally losing focus. Now she is confident in her team and all they continue to do.
"We've never lost our confidence. The girls set a goal to go undefeated — by no means are they comfortable," the coach said, "But we are definitely excited about our record overall."
Next weekend (Oct. 15-16) the Saints travel to Vancouver, Wash., for the Clark Crossover tournament where they will compete against teams from all four regions.
They are first scheduled to play the Tacoma Titans, the number one seed from the West, in a 1 p.m. Friday start.
Later that afternoon, they play the Spokane Sasquatch (East) at 3:20 p.m. followed by a final match at 7:40 p.m against the Bellevue Bulldogs of the North.
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