The Philomath High School girls volleyball team’s season ended Tuesday night with a three-set loss at Oregon West Conference champion Stayton.
The Eagles posted a 25-12, 25-7, 25-22 victory and won the league title with a 9-1 record. Stayton (17-4 overall) will now await the release of the Class 4A playoff bracket. Cascade also earned an automatic berth in the postseason by finishing runner-up in the conference at 7-3.
“A season full of many ups and downs, but I’m so proud of their growth,” PHS coach Whitney Thomas said. “Although our record doesn’t show it enough, I cannot think of a team I’ve coached that has improved so much over one season. They are an amazingly eclectic group of girls who genuinely care for each other and created a bond to last forever. I’m very proud of them for showing up every practice and every game ready to learn and grow.”
Stayton had to fight at the end to hold off the Warriors in the third set. Down 23-18, Philomath scored four straight points. Senior Nora Stanley got it started with a hit that the Eagles defense couldn’t handle for a side-out. Then with Stanley at the service line, Philomath pulled to within 23-22 on two hits by the Eagles that sailed long and on a serve-receive pass that couldn’t be handled at the net.
The Warriors had a hit of their own that went long, however, as Stayton advanced to match point at 24-22. On the next play, the Eagles ended it with a serve that the PHS serve-receive unit wasn’t able to control.
Stanley had a team-high 17 kills and senior Cheyenne Adams finished with 14 assists.
Philomath finished 4-17 overall and 1-9 in the league.
Stayton 3, Philomath 0
Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Stayton HS
Teams (Record) 1 2 3 Philomath (4-17, 1-9) 12 7 22 Stayton (17-4, 9-1) 25 25 25