Dufur duo picks up Big Sky Conference awards

“I really couldn’t believe it at first. It is an amazing honor to be named co-Player of the Year,” Reed said. “I have been playing this sport since the fifth grade and it is everything to me. I have worked as hard as I possibly can to get better as a player, so to be rewarded like this means so much to me. I couldn’t have done any of this without my teammates and my coaches. They have always believed in me and made me push myself even harder.”

In addition to her Player of the Year status, Reed finishes her career as a three-time all-league winner, with back-to-back first-team awards.

On the year, the senior setter converted 90 percent of her serves with 61 aces and 42 errors on 408 attempts.

Reed also added some extra offense into her repertoire, racking up 77 kills and just 39 errors on 335 swings.

At the net, she posted 513 assists with 81 perfect passes and 273 good passes, and added 119 digs.

“Sydney is a player that you never worry about because she is always consistent in everything she does, like her serving and her setting,” said Dufur head coach Jody Weaver. “She is really the glue that held this team together.”

Dufur started out the regular season with four consecutive losses, but then rebounded with a five-match winning streak from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6 to vault up to the top of the Big Sky Conference standings.

The Rangers defeated South Wasco County in their district tournament opener, but lost to Arlington in the championship match.

Dufur swept Damascus Christian in state sub-round match on Oct. 26 to set up Saturday’s second round match.

The Lady Rangers posted a 15-13 overall record and went 11-3 in league action, finishing with a No. 12 ranking in the 1A classification.

Those numbers seemed like a longshot early in the year, as the Rangers pieced together roster without handful of players and all-state hitter and graduated senior Tianna Ellis.

Much like a point guard on the basketball court, Reed kept the Lady Ranger offense trending in the right direction, especially with so much inexperience on the roster.

“Sydney has been a significant part of this team over the past few years,” Weaver said. “Her competitive attitude and game play helped the team overcome some difficult situations. Through her encouraging and persistent mindset, she led our team further than anyone expected.”

As a sophomore last season, Chloe Beeson 90 aces, 182 kills, 17 blocks and 75 digs to pick up second-team all-league recognition.

Those numbers nearly doubled this season, as the junior displayed more athleticism for acrobatic hits and blocks, and she had an even more powerful serve to help the Lady Rangers vault into the postseason.

Beeson led the team in kills and aces with 279 kills and 135 aces for the season.

Those 279 kills came on 865 swings, with 144 errors, and she served at an 85-percent clip with 135 aces and 63 errors on 417 tries.

In her passing game, Beeson logged 267 perfect passes, 502 good passes and totaled 107 digs and a team-leading 41 blocks.

Weaver is looking forward to one final season with her top offensive threat back at the net.

“Chloe also played an integral role on defense, passing in every serve receive rotation and leading her teammates from the middle back with her ability to read hitters and dig even the hardest hit balls,” Weaver said.