Volleyball

Central Catholic and Crook County did exactly what they were supposed to Saturday in the OSAA state volleyball title matches, and, in a way, so did Summit - in dramatic fashion - to close out the fall schedule.

The Rams beat Jesuit for the third straight season in the final, winning in three games for their third three-game win of the tournament. During the season, Central Catholic lost just three games.

Crook County won its sixth straight title, and second at Class 4A, with a three-game win over Hidden Valley. The Cowgirls, who won four-straight at Class 5A before dropping to 4A last year, lost just one game in the tournament.

Summit won its first Class 5A title in its third match in five years in a five-game battle with West Albany. The Storm, who ended the season ranked No. 1, rallied from a two-game deficit and won the fifth game 15-12.

At Class 3A, Burns scored a three-game win over Willamina for its fifth title and third in the last eight years.

Days Creek claimed its third title with a three-game win over Portland Christian in the Class 2A final. The Wolves lost just one game in the tournament, but were involved in one of the most competitive title runs among the six classes. Of the 10 games they played, six were decided by the minimum two points.

At Class 1A, Ione completed an unbeaten season with a five-game win over Powder Valley, taking the fifth game 15-10.

Of the six state champions, only Burns finished the season ranked lower than No. 1. The Hilanders were rated No. 3.

It’s only taken two weeks of action, but already the Central Catholic Rams are playing at a level that has statisticians searching through archives for records the team might set.

One the Rams might set is going through a season without losing a game.

Despite graduating five players to college programs, including Portland and Portland State, the Rams might be at that level.
In their opening eight matches, the Rams were pushed in just two game - by Mount Hood Conference rivals Gresham (25-23) and Barlow (26-24).

The impressive start follows two consecutive state titles, including a dominating performance last year in which the Rams lost just three games to Oregon teams throughout the season. Central Catholic lost three matches, but all were to teams at a tournament in Las Vegas.

This year, the Rams are headed to just one tournament out of state - this weekend in Seattle.

Central Catholic features two candidates for Player of the Year: 6-foot-1 senior Martenne Bettdendorf, who is headed to the University of Oregon, and 6-3 junior Kailee Johnson, who is among the nation’s top basketball prospects.

If Central gets through the upcoming week unscathed, it’ll attract comparisons to the 1985 St. Mary’s Academy team, which dominated the 16-team state tournament at an unprecedented level. The Blues won four matches - played in the era of needing to serve to score - while giving up just 35 points, an average of fewer than nine per match. They won the final over Marshall 15-3, 15-3, the fewest points given up in a final at the large-school classification. Only Corbett’s 15-2, 15-3 win over Riverside in the 1986 Class A final scored fewer points. Corbett was coached by Debbie Swoboda, the current coach at Reynolds.

The 1985 St. Mary’s team featured two stellar players: seniors Kelly Cole and Lisa McCammond. Both frontline players, Cole and McCammond were first-team, all-tournament selections during their junior year as well when the Blues beat West Linn, 4-15, 15-1, 15-6, in the final.

Cole then led the St. Mary’s basketball team to the 1986 state title, culminating a three-year run of championships for the downtown Portland all-girls school.

Cole moved on to basketball program at Northwestern University and helped the Wildcats to a  No. 4 ranking during her senior season. She became a coach at the school and then coached at Boston College for nine years before taking time off to focus on her family.
Cole is currently head coach at Bedford, Mass., High School.

McCammond played college volleyball at the University of Washington and finished No. 2 in kills on the school’s career list.
The ‘85 Blues have a natural connection to the 2011 Rams: coach Rick Lorenz. Lorenz guided St. Mary’s to five state titles before moving to Central Catholic, where he’s won four titles. Last season’s title moved the Rams to the top of the state in appearances in the final with 12, one ahead of both Gresham and Barlow.

The Rams are 4-8 in finals under Lorenz, who is 9-9 in finals with St. Mary’s and Central Catholic.
The 2011 State Tournament is set for Nov. 11-12 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Central Catholic might have won all six of its matches this fall, but what counts almost equally within the OSAA Rankings system is that the opponents the Rams have played a lost several of their other matches. So, within Class 6A, the Rams are ranked sixth, while Clackamas is ranked No. 1 due to both of its wins coming against teams that won their other matches.

Difficult to understand? Not really, as the season is just two weeks old.

And, the rankings are unique enough that Sherwood, the defending Class 5A champion, doesn't even show up in the 5A rankings because it has yet to play a counting match. Marshfield is No. 1 at 5A.

Crook County, the defending 4A champion, is No. 5 despite having beaten two 6A schools. Hidden Valley is No. 1

Vale is No. 1 at 3A, Portland Christian is No. 1 at 2A and Perrydale is No. 1 at 1A as league play gets fully underway this week.

The OSAA volleyball championships produced champions with different storylines after a pair of thrilling matches Saturday night at Liberty High School.

First, senior-laden Sherwood beat the host Falcons in five games to win its first Class 5A title. Then, underclass-laden Central Catholic beat Jesuit for the Class 6A title for the second straight season.

That leaves Sherwood as a longshot to repeat next season, while the Rams are a significant favorite to win next year, and in 2012, too.

"We have so many seniors on our team, so it's great won win a state title," Sherwood senior Megan Sheilds said afterward. "We've all been working so hard all season, which makes it really rewarding."

In other finals, Crook County won its fifth consecutive title, but first at Class 4A, Santiam Christian won the Class 3A title for the secon-straight year, Weston-McEwen won at Class 2A and Cove won the Class 1A title in a thriling five-set final.

Central Catholic's title is the school's fourth, Santiam Christian won its third and Cove's title is just its second.

Jesuit opened its regular season by beating Sprague 25-12, 25-8, 25-8 in a non-league match Tuesday, which allowed the Crusaders to move into the state power rankings - at No. 36.

A state finalist last year with a strong returning roster, the Crusaders are ranked lower than the Olympians from among the 43 Class 6A teams, although just until Thursday. The power rankings use factors such as a team's winning percentage, and opponent's winning percentage and strength of schedule, which put Jesuit near the bottom of the classification because Sprague has yet to win a match.

Jesuit plays host to No. 16 Canby (4-1) on Thursday and will move up regardless of who wins because of the Cougars' winning percentage.

Central Catholic is No. 1.

Marshfield is No.1 at 5A, Brookings is No. 1 at 4A, Vale is No. 1 at 3A, Chiloquin is No. 1 at 2A and Elkton is No. 1 at 1A.

6A Non-League
North Salem def. BENSON (5A) 25-5, 25-15, 25-19 (3-0)
CANBY def. West Salem 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-9, 15-11 (3-2)
CLEVELAND (5A) def. Beaverton 26-24, 25-23, 27-29, 26-24 (3-1)
Lakeridge at Grant, 6:30 p.m.
Aloha def. LAKE OSWEGO 26-24, 25-27, 20-25, 25-18, 15-10 (3-2)
MOUNTAIN VIEW (5A) def. Redmond 25-8, 25-22, 25-17 (3-0)
Sunset def. WEST LINN 25-9, 25-20, 25-12 (3-0)
SHELDON def. McNary 15-25, 25-22, 32-30, 25-19 (3-1)
JESUIT def. Sprague 25-12, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)
MCKAY def. Jefferson (PDX) (5A) 25-14, 25-14, 25-19 (3-0)
SOUTH SALEM def. Wilson (5A) 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 25-18 (3-1)
SOUTHRIDGE def. Lincoln 25-22, 25-13, 25-20 (3-0)
Oregon City def. WESTVIEW 25--18,19-25,25-21,25-17 (3-1)

6A Southern Oregon
South Medford def. CRATER 25-22, 25-19, 25-15 (3-0)
Grants Pass def. NORTH MEDFORD 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 (3-0)

6A-2 Mt. Hood Conference
CENTENNIAL def. David Douglas 25-15, 25-16, 17-25, 25-18 (3-1)
Central Catholic def. GRESHAM 25-11, 25-8, 25-15 (3-0)
Barlow def. ST. MARY'S ACADEMY 25-14, 25-15, 25-17 (3-0)

6A-4 Pacific Conference
Newberg def. CENTURY 25-15, 25-19, 25-20 (3-0)
Tigard def. FOREST GROVE 25-8, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19 (3-1)
GLENCOE def. Hillsboro 25-13, 25-17, 25-14 (3-0)
TUALATIN def. McMinnville 17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 16-25, 15-10 (3-2)

5A Non-League
Crook County (4A) def. BEND 21-25, 17-25, 25-21, 23-25 (3-1)
PENDLETON def. La Grande (4A) 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23 (3-1)
SCAPPOOSE (4A) def. Franklin 25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 26-24 (3-1)

5A Midwestern
MARIST def. Willamette 25-12, 22-25, 25-12, 25-9 (3-1)
MARSHFIELD def. Churchill 25-21, 26-24, 25-20 (3-0)
Springfield def. NORTH EUGENE 26-24, 25-22, 25-17 (3-0)

5A Southern Oregon
EAGLE POINT def. Ashland 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23 (3-1)

5A-1 Northwest Oregon Conference
PARKROSE def. Milwaukie 25-13, 25-14, 25-21 (3-0)
PUTNAM def. St. Helens 25-18, 17-25, 25-13, 27-25 (3-1)
SHERWOOD def. Sandy 25-12, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)
Liberty def. WILSONVILLE 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21 (3-1)

5A-2 Mid-Willamette Conference
CRESCENT VALLEY def. Woodburn 25-22, 25-10, 25-10 (3-0)
West Albany def. DALLAS 25-16, 25-16, 25-23 (3-0)
LEBANON def. South Albany 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10 (3-2)
SILVERTON def. Corvallis 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 (3-0)

5A-3 Columbia River Conference
HERMISTON def. Hood River Valley 24-26, 25-21, 25-9, 14-25, 15-12 (3-2)

4A Non-League
Banks at Estacada
Banks vs. Roosevelt, Estacada
LA SALLE PREP def. Stayton 25-15, 25-13, 25-10 (3-0)
Newport def. MOLALLA 25-15,25-14,25-16 (3-0)
Astoria def. NORTH MARION 25-23, 25-10, 25-23 (3-0)
Burns (3A) def. ONTARIO 25-6,25-9,25-12 (3-0)
PHILOMATH def. Cottage Grove 25-15, 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 15-9 (3-2)
Siuslaw def. TILLAMOOK 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 (3-0)
BROOKINGS-HARBOR def. McKinleyville (CA) 25-23, 18-25, 25-11, 25-16 (3-1)
SISTERS def. Madras 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-8 (3-2)
ELMIRA def. Douglas 21-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-20 (3-1)
Seaside def. GLADSTONE 25-15, 25-12, 25-10 (3-0)
Central def. JUNCTION CITY 25-9,25-14,25-23 (3-0)
Henley def. LA PINE 25-13, 28-30, 25-20, 25-15 (3-1)
SWEET HOME def. Cascade 26-24, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12 (3-2)
Yamhill-Carlton def. TAFT 25-11, 25-14, 25-15 (3-0)

3A Non-League
PILOT ROCK (2A) def. Umatilla 25-19, 25-21, 25-15 (3-0)
Nyssa def. PAYETTE (ID) 25-10,25-19,19-25,27-25 (3-1)
Riverside def. IRRIGON (2A) 25-11, 25-13, 25-19 (3-0)
Toledo def. NESTUCCA (2A) 25-15, 25-22, 25-20 (3-0)
WARRENTON def. City Christian (1A) 25-12, 25-12, 25-21 (3-0)
Coquille def. GOLD BEACH (2A) 25-15, 25-12, 25-17 (3-0)
REEDSPORT (2A) def. Myrtle Point 25-15, 26-28, 25-20, 25-15 (3-1)
Chiloquin (2A) at Illinois Valley, 6:15 p.m.
Bonanza (2A) def. ROGUE RIVER 25-17, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23 (3-1)
Warrenton def. JEWELL (1A) 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20 (3-1)

3A Southern Cascade
St. Mary's (Medford) def. LAKEVIEW 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 (3-0)

3A Sunset
Glide def. BANDON 25-14, 25-19, 25-14 (3-0)

3A-1 Lewis & Clark League
Valley Catholic def. CATLIN GABEL 25-20, 25-21, 25-11 (3-0)
Corbett / Corbett Charter def. OREGON EPISCOPAL 25-11, 25-21, 25-6 (3-0)
CLATSKANIE def. De La Salle North Catholic 25-12, 25-21, 25-21 (3-0)

3A-2 West Valley League
Willamina def. DAYTON 25-18, 25-22, 25-11 (3-0)
Amity def. COLTON 25-11, 25-18, 27-25 (3-0)
WESTSIDE CHRISTIAN def. Gervais 25-22, 18-25, 26-24, 17-25, 15-8 (3-2)

3A-3 PacWest Conference
Harrisburg def. WALDPORT 25-21, 25-21, 25-9 (3-0)
Creswell def. PLEASANT HILL 25-21, 25-20, 25-17 (3-0)
BLANCHET CATHOLIC def. Chemawa 25-4, 25-9, 25-22 (3-0)
SANTIAM CHRISTIAN def. Salem Academy 25-20, 25-18, 25-9 (3-0)

2A Non-League
ENTERPRISE def. Wallowa (1A) 25-21. 18-25, 25-18, 25-20 (3-1)
Echo (1A) def. STANFIELD 25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 26-24 (3-1)
Prospect Charter (1A) def. MILO ADVENTIST ACADEMY 26-24, 22-25, 25-18, 25-11 (3-1)
Lost River at Butte Valley (CA), 6:15 p.m.

2A-1 Northwest League
KNAPPA def. Delphian 25-13,25-7,25-13 (3-0)
NEAH-KAH-NIE def. Portland Christian 25-22,26-16,21-25,17-25,15-10 (3-2)
VERNONIA def. Riverdale 25-19, 25-13, 25-20 (3-0)
Faith Bible def. GASTON 25-19, 25-5, 25-10 (3-0)

2A-2 Mountain View Conference
Days Creek def. OAKLAND 20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-21 (3-1)
CROW def. Oakridge 25-12, 16-25, 25-15, 14-25, 15-8 (3-2)
North Douglas def. RIDDLE 19-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-14, 15-11 (3-2)
Glendale def. YONCALLA 25-18,25-22,14-25,11-25,15-11 (3-2)

2A-3 Tri-River Conference
CENTRAL LINN def. Scio 25-16, 26-24, 25-23 (3-0)
Regis def. CULVER 25-21, 25-14, 20-25, 25-21 (3-1)
EAST LINN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY def. Kennedy 25-9, 25-17, 25-20 (3-0)
Santiam def. WESTERN MENNONITE 25-19, 25-11, 27-25 (3-0)

1A Non-League
JEWELL def. City Christian 25-22, 25-17, 25-11 (3-0)
Imbler def. GRISWOLD / NIXYAAWII COMMUNITY SCHL 25-8, 25-8, 27-25 (3-0)

1A-1 The Valley 10 League
SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN def. Life Christian 25-13, 25-8, 25-11 (3-0)
Damascus Christian def. NORTH CLACKAMAS CHRISTIAN 25-22, 25-13, 25-20 (3-0)
PORTLAND LUTHERAN def. Open Door Christian Academy 25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 25-16 (3-1)
Columbia Christian def. PORTLAND WALDORF 25-18, 25-23, 19-25, 25-13 (3-1)

1A-2 Casco League
Perrydale def. FALLS CITY 24-26, 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10 (3-2)
VERITAS def. C.S. Lewis Academy 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 (3-0)
Willamette Valley Christian def. OREGON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 25-10, 25-5, 25-6 (3-0)

1A-3 Mountain West League
Alsea def. MAPLETON 25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20 (3-1)
MCKENZIE def. Triangle Lake 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 (3-0)
Lowell def. MOHAWK 25-23,20-25,25-16,25-21 (3-1)
Eddyville Charter def. SILETZ VALLEY 18-25,25-19,25-21,26-24 (3-1)

1A-4 Skyline League
Umpqua Valley Christian def. CAMAS VALLEY 25-21, 25-20, 25-17 (3-0)
Powers def. PACIFIC 25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 25-12 (3-1)

1A-5 Mountain Valley League
Hosanna Christian def. NORTH LAKE 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 (3-1)

1A-6 Big Sky League
ARLINGTON def. Central Christian 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 (3-0)
CONDON / WHEELER def. Ione 25-21, 25-14, 25-17 (3-0)
Dufur def. SOUTH WASCO COUNTY 25-21, 25-17, 25-15 (3-0)

It’s not often that a state title race features a pair of defending state champions, but that’s how Class 4A volleyball will open the season.

Crook County won its fourth-straight Class 5A title last season, then dropped to Class 4A as part of the reclassification plan.

Sisters won its second Class 4A title in three years in November. The Outlaws have played in the past three finals.

In Class 6A, Central Catholic figures to be a strong contender to repeat as champion with Jesuit, last season’s runner-up, again posing the most significant challenge.