Tigers volleyball falls to Eagles in title game

For the first time in the school's history, the Clatskanie girls volleyball team made it to the championship match at state. Though they would fall in three straight sets (19-25, 10-25, 8-25) to Turner's Crosshill Christian Eagles, the Tigers had two hard-fought matches in both the quarter and semi finals to set up their unprecedented arrival at the championship match. Facing off last Friday against Myrtle Point, Clatskanie was able to sweep the Bobcats in three straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-14) in the tournament's quarterfinal. Senior Joey Sizemore, who was selected to this year's All-League First Team, led Clatskanie with 14 kills and two blocks. Juniors Lacey Willis and Addy Compton, who were also selected to the All-League First Team, factored in huge, as Willis' 12 kills were second only to Sizemore, and Compton's 33 assists and eight digs led the team. Sophomore Izzy Mustula's eight aces led the team, and junior McKinsey Doyle, the last of the All-League First Team, was 100 percent from the service line, adding seven digs and a save.

The semifinal game against Portland Christian was the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. With Clatskanie already having won "the rubber match" on Oct. 25, the team made it official last Friday with yet another win; this one taking four sets (25-22, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21). Willis led the team with 16 kills and two blocks, while Compton had 34 assists to lead the Tigers. Doyle's 22 digs led the team, while senior Mya Jensen's three aces led the way. Sizemore contributed 13 kills and eight digs, and junior Olivia George had seven kills in the win. Rounding out the stats was Jadynce Black, who had two kills and two digs.

The following night in La Grande, the Tigers' dream season came to a close at the hands of the Eagles. "We played so well and they worked so hard," said Head Coach Amanda Baker. "We were a little outsized in more than one way." Willis, who earned "co-player of the game" honors, led the Tigers with 11 kills and three blocks. Compton had the team high in assists with 14, and Doyle had 12 digs to lead the team. Compton also turned in seven digs, while Willis had five digs and an ace. Sizemore, Jensen, and George had three kills each in the loss, and Willis and Sizemore were both named to First Team All-Tournament, collecting even more hardware on their season. "We accomplished so many goals and can walk away from this season knowing we gave it all we had," said Baker, who, earlier in the season, was named Co-Coach of the Year.