HOOD RIVER – Hood River Valley’s volleyball team displayed some heady play and fought back from a 2-1 set deficit to beat Centennial, 3-2, in front of a loud, hometown crowd Oct. 14 at Vannet Court.
HRV’s come-from-behind Northwest Oregon Conference match effort was only possible because Coach Emily Curtis’ team refused to lose the first set after trailing 17-11. The home team clawed back, fueled by the left-side hitting of Tia Britt and the digging and passing of the back row, including libero Abri Lopez.
It was 24-23 Centennial, when a heads-up play – literally - by Emily Doss saved the set for HRV. Centennial’s talented outside hitter, Kayleanni Schiedler, pounded the ball off a perfect set toward the Hood River court. Doss, who had served, came forward to the 10-foot line and was in position for the dig. Problem was, Schiedler’s spike came with such speed that Doss didn’t have time to lift her hands. The ball smacked her in the forehead, then shot back almost as quicky over the net diagonally into the vacant far corner on the Centennial side.
That made it 24-24 and two more great plays followed. Lylah Hunter made an all-out dive to her right to dig another Schiedler hit which resulted in an HRV point. Set point came when Grace Kerr exited the court near the right side of the net, running down an errant dig – which she sent as a no-look, over-the-shoulder shot that fell in the midst of three surprised Centennial players.
Centennial, which had beaten HRV in the first league meeting between the two teams on Sept. 24, didn’t flinch after the opening set loss, taking sets No. 2 and 3 - 25-11 and 25-17. Hood River was equally impressive in the fourth set. A Britt kill stopped a two-point Centennial run at 24-13 and HRV won the next point to tie the match.
Centennial burst to a 6-0 lead in the deciding set before HRV scored the next 10 points. Britt had a kill from her spot on the left side, Doss had a couple of deep serves and an ace, and Eleanor Buser added a stuff block during the run. It was 10-8 HRV when back-to-back Addi Van Metre kills matched the home team’s largest fifth-set lead. That proved enough of a cushion as Hood River fought off another Centennial run to win, 15-13.
Hood River has three matches remaining this season: 0ct. 21 at La Salle Prep; Oct. 23 vs. Milwaukie (HRV’s senior night); and Oct. 28 at Hillsboro.
Commented