BAKER VOLLEYBALL: Bulldogs wrap up regular season with sweep of Ontario on senior night; Bulldogs will travel to Estacada for Oct. 29 play-in match

Published 4:34 pm Thursday, October 24, 2024

The Baker volleyball team concluded its regular season with a dominating sweep of Ontario on Thursday night, Oct. 24.

The Bulldogs have clinched third place in the Greater Oregon League and will travel to Estacada for a Class 4A play-in game on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m.

Baker’s 10 seniors were honored before Thursday’s match — Brooklyn Rayl, Sofia Hanson, Kathryn Gentry, Lilly Wilson, Taylor Churchfield, Sydney Penning, Olivia Jacoby, Ashlyn Dalton, Jayden Whitford and Lexi Rupel.

Baker won the JV match, 25-10, 25-10.

Varsity match

First set

With an all-senior starting lineup, Baker dominated, with Ashlyn Dalton serving 15 straight points to start, including multiple aces. Baker won the set, 25-8.

Second set

This was more competitive early, with Ontario leading 2-1 and staying within 10-8. But then Baker scored 10 straight points on Sydney Penning’s serve, including three aces, and the Bulldogs won 15 of the last 16 points to take the set, 25-9.

Third set

Senior libero Lilly Wilson had a highlight one-handed sprawling save to highlight another dominating set, 25-8.

Baker coach Ali Woodward said senior night was “bittersweet” as she watched the 10 seniors play for the final time at BHS. Woodward said her previous largest senior class was six.

“It’s pretty special to be a part of,” she said.

Woodward credited the seniors with “helping to build the program to where it is.”

As the Bulldogs prepare for the play-in match at Estacada, Woodward said the key for Baker is not physical but rather mental.

The Bulldogs have struggled at times to maintain leads, including on Tuesday night when they were ahead of Class 3A power Burns 18-11 in the second set, only to lose.

“If we show up (in the play-in game) I think we have a very good chance of advancing to the next round,” Woodward said.

If Baker wins, it would advance to the 16-team playoff round, with a berth in the eight-team state tournament at stake. The state tournament is Nov. 8-9 in North Bend.

Play-in match

Baker’s opponent, Estacada, southeast of Portland, is 15-10 overall and finished third in the Tri-Valley Conference with a 6-4 league record.

Baker and Estacada have four common opponents: North Marion, Astoria, The Dalles and Pendleton.

North Marion

• Estacada won 3-0

• Baker won 3-0

Astoria

• Estacada won 2-0

• Baker won 2-0

The Dalles

• Estacada lost 3-0, lost 3-2

• Baker lost 2-0

Pendleton

• Estacada lost 2-0

• Baker lost 3-1, lost 3-0