Dufur wins Big Sky volleyball title

THE DALLES — The OSAA Class 1A Big Sky League volleyball regular season concluded with the Dufur High Rangers winning the district title for the first time since 2014.

The No. 7-ranked Rangers (12-0 league, 19-2) won 3-2 over the Ione/Arlington High Cardinals (11-1 league, 20-7 overall) in the Big Sky District championship game Oct. 25 at The Dalles High School.

The Rangers, guided by first-year Coach Aimee Bell, overcame a 2-0 set deficit and won the next three sets 25-17, 25-15, 15-10. In the fourth set, Dufur junior middle blocker Cadence Young — the league’s player of the year  — pounded a set-winning kill to help send the match to the tiebreaker. Junior setter Ainslee Eisland pitched in with consecutive service aces.

“We had quite a comeback to win the championship game, and it sure was exciting. I’m very proud of the girls,” said Bell. “One thing that they’ve done all season whenever we were behind is that they never give up.”

Young had an outstanding performance throughout the match, including a service ace in the third set, propelling the Rangers in front, 19-9.

“I feel honored and very grateful about that,” said Young, of winning the league award. “Everyone on our team worked so hard all season to help us, and all that work paid off.

“We have an amazing team, and I knew early in the season that we had the best team in the league. I think we’ll make it to the state tournament quarterfinals, which would be a great way to conclude the season.”

The Rangers advanced to the championship game following a 3-0 win over the No. 18-ranked Sherman High Huskies (9-3 league, 19-6 overall) in one district semifinal contest. The Huskies responded to the setback and won their next match, 3-0, over the No. 22-ranked South Wasco County High Redsides (10-2 league, 20-10 overall). South Wasco lost its semifinal match to Ione, 3-1.

All four Big Sky squads advanced to the 32-team 1A state playoffs beginning Oct. 29. Dufur will host Mannahouse Christian Academy (13-10); Sherman travels to the Willamette Valley to face the No. 15-ranked Casco League champion St. Paul High Buckaroos (14-0 league, 19-10 overall). South Wasco plays at No. 11-ranked Southwest Christian (17-9) in Beaverton. Ione, ranked 16, hosts No. 17-ranked Rogue Valley Adventist Academy.

The winners of first round match-ups advance to the Nov. 1 second round. Second round winners qualify for the quarterfinals Nov. 7-8 at La Grande High School.