Dufur starts week tied for first in Big Sky League volleyball

THE GORGE - So far so good for the match tested Dufur High School volleyball team, which played five matches in six days this past week – winning all five – to remain in a first-place tie in the Big Sky League standings.

The Rangers won’t get a break in the next 10 days either, as Dufur plays South Wasco County, Sherman and Ione/Arlington in its next three conference matches. The week began with Dufur (9-2 overall) and Ione/Arlington tied for first place with 6-0 league records, while Sherman and South Wasco are tied for third at 4-1.

Dufur’s win this past week – all by 3-0 margins – included conference wins against Bickleton, Horizon Christian and Lyle/Wishram. The Rangers extended their win streak to eight with a 3-0 nonleague road win over the Nixyaawii High Golden Eagles (1-4) on Sept. 27 in Pendleton. A significant victory in their streak was a 3-0 road win at Damascus Christian (7-4) on Sept. 22.

An impressive statistic regarding the Rangers is that they have lost five sets all season. The Rangers are tied with the No. 1-ranked North Clackamas Christian High Saints (11-1) for the fewest number of set defeats in the 75-member Class 1A division. The Rangers are hoping to advance to the state playoffs for the first time since 2019.

South Wasco (11-5 overall) lost to Ione/Arlington, 3-2, on Sept. 23 but beat Sherman, 3-0, two days later. Sherman is 10-3 this fall.

The defending Big Sky League champion Redsides have won five of their past six contests. The Redsides had a four-game win streak that included a 3-1 nonleague win over Open Door (6-6) on Sept. 19 in Troutdale.

Third-year Coach Shelley Iverson said her team’s practice ethic is paying off. “I’m real happy with the way the team is playing and they’ve really put a lot of time and effort into everything at practice to help us improve,.

“Our goal is to stay up high in the rankings so that we don’t have to travel for a road game in the playoffs. We’re hoping to do well at the district playoffs to help us qualify for a home game in the state playoffs.”

 The trio of seniors Bailey Udey (17 kills, 11 digs), Jayda Iverson (five kills, 13 digs) and junior Jayden Chiccino (six kills, nine digs) had strong performances to help lead the Redsides to the important win over the Huskies. Junior Taya Howell and sophomore Aullee Shirley added 11 digs apiece.

 Coach Iverson said: “The whole team has really bonded … they’ve jelled very well together and everyone gets along really well, too.”

 Sherman, tied for third place with the Redsides in the 10-team Big Sky League standings, had a key highlight in nonleague matches – a 3-1 win over the Class 2A No. 13-ranked Irrigon High Knights (10-5) at a Sept. 20 tournament at Condon. The Huskies won three matches at the tourney.

 Following a Sept. 30 home matchup versus Ione/Arlington, the Huskies play their next game Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. versus Dufur at Sherman High School in Moro. The Huskies, guided by first-year Coach Kayci Sharp, are seeking to advance to the state playoffs for a second straight year.