The Dalles volleyball embarks on another state playoff run

THE DALLES — Following the conclusion of the regular season Oct. 23, the Tri-Valley Conference (TVC) champion The Dalles High Riverhawks (8-0 TVC, 16-5 overall) enjoyed a nine-day break from volleyball competition.

The well-rested, No. 7-ranked Riverhawks qualified for a Nov. 1 first-round state playoff home game versus the No. 10-ranked Stayton High Eagles (10-10), which The Dalles won, 3-0. Both squads were playoff teams a season ago, and the Eagles came into the contest with the momentum of a four-game win streak. The Riverhawks were prepared for the challenge, bolstered by winning the TVC title with a perfect 8-0 record.

“Going to the tournament four years in a row is amazing,” said fourth-year Coach Teresa Morris of her team, which is 10-0 at home this season. “I’m incredibly proud of the girls. They came out and they played with absolutely no fear, no hesitation and they did what they were expected to do. We knew that they [Eagles] were going to be a pretty competitive and scrappy team; we had to play aggressive.”

The Riverhawks won the first two sets, 25-8 and 25-21, and then overcame a 12-10 third-set deficit with 7-2 run. They extended their lead to 21-15 on a kill by TVC player-of-the-year Jazlynn Morris-Holmes, the daughter of Coach Morris.

“Our team has been doing super good this year and I’m very excited about going to the tournament, and we’re hoping to win another trophy,” said Morris-Holmes. “I actually think we have a really good chance of doing that and, hopefully, we’ll get third place or higher.”

In the third set against Stayton, a service ace by Riverhawk senior setter Aizlynn Rubio gave the home match point at 24-15. Riverhawk junior middle blocker Evelyn Rogers followed by pounding a match winning kill to the floor for the 25-15 win. Rubio served the final five points of the match.

“Our goal is to do better than we did last year. I think we can do that, especially if we continue to play like we did tonight against Stayton,” Coach Morris said. “I am super proud of Jazzy for winning the player-of-the-year award, and I don’t think that I give her enough praise. She has beyond surpassing my expectations of her performance.”

The Riverhawks reached the eight-team state tourney quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive season; they were fourth last year. They’ll play their opening game Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. versus the defending state champion and No. 2-ranked Marshfield High Pirates (13-8) at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay.

The Riverhawks lost 2-1 to the Pirates in an Oct. 18 non-league tournament. Marshfield took second place in the Sky Em League to the No. 1-ranked Marist Catholic High Spartans (22-1).

“I think we’ll have a good chance to beat Marshfield,” said Morris-Holmes. “It’s a big accomplishment for our team to reach the tournament four years in a row. It was really good for us to go last year and have the experience of competing in the fun state tournament atmosphere.”