VOLLEYBALL: Bulldogs lose heartbreaker to La Grande in five sets; Powder Valley sweeps Pine Eagle

Published 8:02 am Thursday, October 17, 2024

The Baker volleyball team had a chance to clinch second place in the Greater Oregon League, and a berth in the Class 4A playoffs, with a win Thursday night, Oct. 17, against La Grande in the Baker gym, but the Tigers held on for a five-set thriller.

Baker dropped to 2-3 in league play, and La Grande improved to 2-2.

Thursday’s match was also Pink Night, and spectators were encouraged to wear pink in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

First set

Baker scored the first point on Lexi Rupel’s kill, but La Grande then scored nine straight points. The Tigers continued to lead, by as much as 14-3, but Baker rallied to get within 16-10 on Sydney Penning’s kill and later to 19-15. 

La Grande then scored five of the next six points to force multiple set points, but Baker got to within 24-19 with a 3-0 run before La Grande closed out the set, 25-19, on Kayle Collman’s kill.

Second set

Baker started fast, scoring the first five points on Raegan Gulick’s serve, including an ace. But La Grande responded with six straight points. The set was close thereafter, with ties at 6, 7, 8 and 9. 

La Grande surged ahead 14-10, but Baker rallied to tie it at 16 on Ashlyn Dalton’s kill. Baker took the lead for good at 17-16 on Olivia Jacoby’s kill, and the Bulldogs extended the lead to 18-16 after Dalton made a diving one-hand save. Macey Morgan then had two kills, Dalton had another save and libero Lilly Wilson dug a powerful hit from Collman as Baker closed out the set, 25-20.

Third set

The teams exchanged the lead several times, and neither led by more than four points through the middle of the set. Sofia Hanson had a kill to give Baker a 14-12 lead, but La Grande scored four straight to lead 16-14. Baker took its last lead at 17-16. The Bulldogs tied it at 19 on Rupel’s kill, but La Grande scored the last six points to take the set, 25-19.

Fourth set

Baker forced a decisive fifth set with a nailbiter in the fourth.

Baker led 12-4 but La Grande scored seven straight to get within 12-11. Baker led by as much as 17-14 on Jaxyn Ramos’ kill, but La Grande rallied again. The score was tied at 19, 20, 21 and 22. Sydney Penning had kills to give Baker leads at 22-21 and 23-22, and Baker had two set points at 24-22. After La Grande scored two in a row, Baker closed out the set 26-24 on Rupel’s kill.

Fifth set

Baker never led, although it was tied at 3, 4 and 7. La Grande then scored six straight points to take control.

Baker scored three straight points to get within 13-10 and prompt a La Grande timeout. Baker got as close as 13-11, but La Grande closed out the match with the last two points.

Up next

Baker travels to North Powder on Saturday, Oct. 19, to play Powder Valley at 11:30 a.m.

Playoff situation

Baker has one remaining league match, against Ontario on Oct. 24 in the Baker gym at 6:30 p.m. Baker swept Ontario on Oct. 3. The Tigers are winless in league play.

La Grande has two GOL matches, against Ontario and at Pendleton, which is unbeaten at 5-0.

If Baker and La Grande finish with identical 3-3 league records, because they split the two head-to-head matches the tiebreaker would be the number of total points in the two matches. That’s what happened last year, when the two teams also tied with 3-3 league records.

La Grande has the edge, with 194 points to Baker’s 190.

That means Baker, as the third-place team, would not automatically advance to the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Instead, Baker would have to win a play-in game. Last year Baker traveled to Cottage Grove for a play-in game and lost.

The scores in Baker’s 3-1 win at La Grande were 25-21, 25-18, 15-25, 25-21.

Other matches Thursday

Powder Valley traveled to Halfway and swept Pine Eagle, 25-15, 25-20, 25-12.

Prairie City/Burnt River swept Huntington, 25-18, 25-15, 25-11.