POWDER VALLEY VOLLEYBALL: Badgers sweep Prairie City/Burnt River, advance to Class 1A state tournament

Published 1:34 pm Saturday, November 2, 2024

The Powder Valley volleyball team swept Prairie City/Burnt River Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2, in North Powder to qualify for the eight-team Class 1A state tournament Nov. 8-9 at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.

The Badgers, seeded seventh, will play second seed Umpqua Valley Christian on Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.  

“The girls played amazing today and were firing on all cylinders,” Powder Valley coach Marji Lind said after the Badgers’ 25-14, 25-21, 25-15 win. “So fun to be part of. Very strong serving and exceptional defense today. We are excited to be returning to Redmond and look forward to making great memories there.”

Powder Valley is 25-7 this season. Umpqua Valley Christian, from Roseburg, is 23-5.

First set

It was close much of the way, with multiple ties. Sky Nesser gave Powder a 12-11 lead, but the Panthers tied it again at 12. Powder Valley then scored four straight to lead 16-12 and prompt a Prairie City timeout.

The Badgers maintained the momentum, going on to win the set, 25-14, ending the set on a 13-2 run.

Second set

Prairie City/Burnt River started fast, scoring the first six points and leading 16-8. But the Badgers rallied with a 15-0 run to take control of the set. The scoring run included multiple dramatic saves by the Badgers.

The Panthers responded with four straight points to get within 23-20 and prompt Lind to call timeout. But the Badgers scored the final two points to win the set 25-21.

Third set

The Panthers had another strong start, going up 4-0, but Powder responded again with a big scoring run, this one 14-1, to lead 14-5. The Badgers closed out the match, 25-15.