COOS BAY — The moment proved bigger than the Warriors wanted to admit.
Playing in their first state tournament appearance since 2021, Philomath High School’s volleyball team showed flashes of the form that carried them to a 16-6 regular season. But fourth-seeded Cascade ultimately proved too much, defeating the fifth-seeded Warriors 25-19, 16-25, 25-23, 25-16 in Friday’s Class 4A quarterfinals at Marshfield High School.
“It took us too long to get going — that’s what I think happened today,” coach Whitney Thomas said. “I don’t want to take any credit away from Cascade for beating us but truly, that was not our best match that we’ve played. We needed to show up today a little bit bigger than we did and we didn’t.”
Gallery: PHS volleyball vs. Cascade at 4A state tournament (Nov. 7, 2025)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s match against Cascade in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament on Friday.
The loss was particularly frustrating given Philomath’s familiarity with Cascade. The two teams had split during the regular season and Friday’s match showcased why their rivalry has been so competitive. The Warriors battled back after dropping the first set and dominated the second 25-16 to even the match. But Cascade regrouped to take a crucial third set 25-23 and never looked back.
Senior setter Avery Smith said Cascade simply outplayed them when it mattered most.
“I think that they just wanted it more,” Smith said. “Their block was up, they were playing smarter than us 100% and they were taking advantage of us when we were back.”
A few others acknowledged that nerves played a significant role in their performance. Senior libero Isabelle Muir said the anxiety of competing at state for the first time was palpable throughout the match.
“With this being our first time here at the state tournament, I think there was a lot of anxiety,” Muir said. “We were kind of nervous and anxious the entire time and it really showed. We were kind of slow on our feet sometimes and I think that got us.”
Senior middle blocker Taylor Hudson echoed those sentiments, noting the environment at Marshfield — with Cascade’s large, energetic crowd — created challenges the team hadn’t faced before.
“I don’t know what it was that made us come up short,” Hudson said. “I think it was just more of the environment. It’s a whole new environment … it’s just something to get used to. In the beginning, we got frantic.”
The last time Philomath played in the state volleyball tournament, this year’s seniors were eighth graders.
“Nobody on our team’s ever been to a state tournament before and I think we were a little overwhelmed, a little shocked,” Thomas said. “Cascade brought a lot of energy and a big crowd and Marshfield is a fun place to play but it can be a little overwhelming sometimes if you’ve never played in an environment like this.”
The loss drops the Warriors (16-7) into the consolation semifinals where they’ll face eighth-seeded Astoria (17-6) at 9 a.m. Saturday. A victory would send Philomath to the consolation final at 3:15 p.m. Saturday with fourth place on the line.
Meanwhile, Cascade (17-5) advances to face top-seeded Marist Catholic (23-1) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday.
Against Philomath, the Cougars shot out to an 8-3 lead in the first set before the Warriors rallied. Philomath took its first lead at 17-16 on a Cascade hit into the net and then went up 18-16 when the Cougars couldn’t recover off a block by junior Megan Ward. But Cascade regrouped and went on an 8-0 run to take control.
In the second set, the two teams were tied at 13-13 when Philomath started to pull away. The Warriors scored seven of the next eight points to put the Cougars on their heels. Junior Nora Stanley, Ward and Hudson all had big hits during that stretch.
A short time later, freshman Alyssa Stanley executed a hit on the 23rd point, the Cascade defense couldn’t handle a serve by junior Cheyenne Adams on the 24th point and senior Shaylee May directed a hit into the back corner to clinch the set.
Cascade never trailed in the third set although the Warriors made things interesting. Philomath stayed within striking distance and tied the set at 13-13 and 14-14 before Cascade went on an 8-1 run.
Philomath fought to the end, however, and scored eight of the next 10 points to trail just 24-23. The Warriors scored three straight while facing set point — two of those on big plays by Hudson with an over-the-shoulder hit with her back to the net and on a block that Cascade’s defense couldn’t handle. After calling a timeout, the Cougars clinched the set on a kill by senior Hailey Abundiz.
The fourth set was also close much of the way with the lead changing hands six times. Philomath took a 14-13 lead after a couple of Cascade hits into the net. The Cougars put together an 11-1 run, however, that ultimately led to victory.
Despite the disappointment, the Warriors remain focused on finishing their season strong. Smith said the team’s priority is savoring whatever time they have left together.
“We are just focusing on playing together as a team since it could be our last game together,” she said. “That’s when we play our best — when we’re bringing a team mentality.”
Thomas said her team’s attitude in the locker room after the loss convinced her they’re ready to compete for fourth place.
“They’re ready to fight all the way back through consolation to go get fourth place,” she said. “They are the most grateful team to be here in the top eight and have the experience. After this loss, instead of being defeated, it’s like, ‘hey, we’re still a top-eight team in the state’ and we’re ready to go prove that we deserve to be there.”
Muir said this season’s team unity has made it special regardless of the outcome.
“I’ve never played with a team that is so united,” she said. “It’s a great group of girls and I love every single one of them so much. It just won’t be the same without them.”
Hudson reflected on how different this season has been compared to last year.
“I’m going to remember having a great team my senior year and just being very happy compared to last year,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have such a different outcome this year and just coming to state because we’ve never ever done it.”
Smith noted how the team’s chemistry developed over the course of the season.
“It’s been amazing coming together, especially because at the beginning, we weren’t super really together as a team,” she said. “Then it came with the season and so it’s been great. They’re all my best friends.”
The Warriors will look to channel that unity against Astoria on Saturday morning.
“Essentially, that is what they talked about the whole time in the locker room through some tears and through some anxiety,” Thomas said. “It’s like, ‘OK, we got that out of our system and now let’s go out there and have fun and show everybody actually how we play.’ That’s our goal for tomorrow.”
Cascade 2, Philomath 1
Friday, Nov. 7, at Hoffine Court, Marshfield HS, Coos Bay
| Philomath (16-7) | 19 | 25 | 23 | 16 |
| Cascade (17-5) | 25 | 16 | 25 | 25 |