The South Wasco County High Redsides fell one win shy of reaching the OSAA Class 1A volleyball state tournament, losing 3-0 to No. 3-ranked Trinity Lutheran in the state playoffs Oct. 28 in Bend.
Anabell Udey, a senior from regular season champion South Wasco County, was selected by a vo…
The No. 18-ranked Redsides (22-12) and the Mountain Valley League Champion Saints (25-4) were vying to reach the final eight-state tourney. In the rematch of an earlier season contest, Coach Shelley Iverson’s Redsides lost, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18. The contest marked the final game of the volleyball careers of Redside seniors Espi Baca, Anabell Udey, Julie Hull, and Hannah Babcock.
“I was bummed after the game and when we went home, we watched it again and we saw that we played really good, so I’m very proud of the girls,” Iverson said. “We played them a lot better than we played them a few weeks ago. The scores of the sets don’t tell the real story.”
The Redsides played the Saints in a tournament at Damascas Christian High School Oct. 7 and lost 25-5, 25-15.
Iverson praised her quartet of seniors for their performance throughout the season. “Anabell will be a big loss; she always played to win and is a great leader on the court,” said Iverson. “Hannah was always the motivational player and leader off the court. Julie is a very competitive player who would keep the team focused in the huddle. Espi really improved with all of her touches, and she gained considerable confidence on the floor. I know all four of our seniors will do great things in the future.”
Hull, Jayda Iverson and Justee Gotham each served 100 percent from the service line against Trinity. Hull had 10 digs and Iverson had eight. Anabell Udey had five aces and she led the Redsides in kills with 11 and digs with 14.
The Redsides had a good start in the 32-team state playoffs in an Oct. 25 first round road game against the No. 14-ranked Damascus Christian High Eagles (16-11). In the rematch of an earlier non-league contest in the regular season, the Redsides won, 3-1, over Eagles at Damascus Christian High School.
“We played with a high energy level and our bench was cheering throughout the entire game to help us create energy,” Iverson said.
“Hailee Pechanec did a great job of serving. We just did the best we could, and the girls played with a lot of heart with an absolutely awesome performance.”
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