Big Sky teams make volleyball playoffs

THE GORGE — The three local Big Sky League volleyball teams to qualify for the 2025 Class 1A state playoffs were eliminated before they could reach the elite eight-team tournament.

Dufur, the 2025 district champion, lost in the second round on Nov. 1 at home to visiting Imbler. Dufur (20-3) won its first-round state playoff match, 3-1, over Portland’s Mannahouse Christian Academy on Oct. 29. The Rangers won three sets after dropping the opener, 27-25. Dufur advanced via 25-11, 26-24, 25-21 wins in the next three sets. That put Coach Aimee Bell’s Rangers into the second round with a state tourney berth at stake. Visiting Imbler (24-7), the No. 1 team from the Old Oregon League, had lost its first nonleague match this season to Dufur. But on Saturday, the Panthers took the first set, 25-18, then came from behind in the second to win, 25-23. After Dufur won set No. 3, 25-18, Imbler clinched the state tourney spot, 25-21.

Dufur, led by the Big Sky player of the year Cadence Young, had a 19-match win streak — which included a 14-0 league record — after a 1-2 start.

Sherman, the third place Big Sky team behind Ione/Arlington, lost its first-round match, 3-0, at Casco League champion St. Paul (20-10). The Huskies finished 19-7. South Wasco County (20-11), which finished fourth at district, lost its first-round match, 3-0, to host Southwest Christian (18-10) in Beaverton.