Blanchet makes history with repeat volleyball title

FOREST GROVE – Top-ranked Blanchet Catholic defeated #6 Salem Academy for the fourth time this season to win the 2009 2A volleyball championship at Pacific University. The Cavaliers followed 1A Imbler’s earlier back-to-back title. That marked the first time in OSAA history that the same schools won consecutive 2A and 1A titles the same two years.

There will be no three-peat next season as both Blanchet and Salem Academy move up to the 3A Pac West League – home to defending 3A champs Santiam Christian.

#1 Blanchet Catholic def. #6 Salem Academy, 25-12, 25-23, 14-25, 25-21

For fans of the 2A/1A tournament this year, it literally seemed like 2008 all over again. Prior to the 2A title match, fans witnessed a 1A final featuring the same two schools – Imbler and Griswold (Helix). The 8:30 pm 2A match featured a finalist from last year in defending Blanchet Catholic (TRC #1). The only difference this year was the Cavalier’s opponent – fellow TRC rival Salem Academy (TRC #2), which finished 3rd in 2008. The all-TRC championship marked the first time in four years that two schools from the same league met for the title.

In 2005, Oregon Episcopal School, led by Libby Morrison, defeated Willamina from the former 2A West Valley League. Ironically, those two WVL schools were reclassified the following year into 3A. Likewise, both Blanchet Catholic and Salem Academy will move up next year into the 3A Pac West League, which happens to be home to 3A powerhouse Santiam Christian. But next year can wait, as both current 2A schools relish their well-deserved trophies from 2009.

Blanchet Catholic’s title run in 2009 began with the first match of the tournament early Friday morning against #2 Weston-McEwen. In 2006 #1 Portland Christian def. #2 Cascade Christian in five sets in exactly the same scenario, sparking the Royals to an eventual championship. Likewise, Blanchet edged the TigerScots in five sets to reach the semi’s against #5 Corbett (NWL#1). The Cavs dispatched the Cards in four sets to reach the championship match against the Salem Crusaders, who defeated the Medford Crusaders (St. Mary’s) in the other 2A semifinal Friday night.

A lingering question in the back of many minds was whether Blanchet Catholic could defeat SAC four times in the same season. Earlier this year, the Cavs defeated the Crusaders, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0 in TRC regular season and district playoffs. But the fourth time proved less than charming for SAC as the Cavaliers wasted no time getting off to a fast start in set one.

TRC POY Morgan Miller’s service ace gave Blanchet a quick 11-5 lead, prompting SAC coach Aaron Imig to burn his first timeout. The break did little to stop the Cavaliers as they pushed on to a 19-9 lead, forcing Imig to use his final timeout. Kaitlin Falk’s kill finished off the Crusaders, 25-12 in the first set.

SAC's Lindsey Montgomery delivers one of her match-high 16 kills vs. Blanchet

Photo by Bruce McCain

After swapping sides, set two was much more competitive. Blanchet built a 13-9 lead, only to see SAC come back and tie the score at 14-14, at which point Cavs coach Sherrie Bashaw called timeout. The teams battled to a 18-18 tie before SAC’s Hannah Flores served into the net, giving the point and serve to Blanchet. On the following rally SAC committed an attack error, giving Blanchet a 20-18 lead, which the Cavs carried to the bench during a SAC timeout. Blanchet pushed its lead to 22-19, burning SAC’s final timeout. With Blanchet at set point, 24-22, SAC’s Hannah Flores’ kill brought SAC to within a point at 24-23. But the set ended on SAC’s Silvia McCullough service error.

Blanchet Catholic with one of 91 digs against SAC

Photo by Bruce McCain

In set three, the Crusaders came out determined not to be swept 3-0 again by Blanchet. The Crusaders jumped on the Cavs, lading 5-1 and 10-5, forcing a Blanchet timeout. Leading 13-7, SAC went on another five-point run to 18-7, requiring coach Bashaw to use her final timeout. It did no good as SAC pressed on to a dominating 25-14 win, finished off by Miranda Baker’s kill.

Set four began with a quick 3-0 SAC run that was soon forgotten after Blanchet Catholic went on its own 9-1 run to take a 9-4 lead. But Baker’s kill tied the score at 11-11, which led to a Blanchet timeout. This time, the timeout helped break SAC’s momentum as the Cavaliers built a 16-12 lead. After a SAC timeout, Blanchet boosted its lead to 19-13, at which point coach Imig burned his final timeout of the potentially decisive set.

Imig’s team responded well, cutting the lead to 21-19 on a Blanchet attack error. But on that play, SAC’s Flores went down with an injury to her left leg or knee. Flores was eventually helped off the court to deserved applause. But the unfortunate injury also seemed to break the SAC’s momentum, giving Blanchet precious time to regroup.

SAC’s Lindsey Montgomery’s kill brought SAC with a point at 22-21. But the Crusaders would not score again as they committed three straight attack errors to hand the final three points to Blanchet Catholic. Afterward, the two teams gathered in a circle with hands joined for a brief prayer before accepting their OSAA medals and trophies.

The Cav’s Annie Schott was named Blanchet’s Qwest Player-of-the-Game with seven kills, 24 assists, eight digs and one service ace. Lindsey Montgomery was SAC’s nominee, finishing with 16 kills, 14 digs and a pair of blocks.

Blanchet Catholic Cavaliers - 2009 OSAA 2A Volleyball Champions

Photo by Bruce McCain

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

Morgan Miller (Jr.) – Blanchet Catholic

Kylee Adderson – (Jr.) – St. Mary’s

Kaitlin Miller (Jr.) – Blanchet Catholic

Lindsey Montgomery (Jr.) – Salem Academy

Presley Pahl (Sr.) – Weston-McEwen

Zoe Young (Sr.) – Corbett

SECOND TEAM

Renee Baumann (Jr.) – Weston-McEwen

Molly Busk (Sr.) – Corbett

Annie Schott (Jr.) – Blanchet Catholic

Alexi Provost-Shean (So.) – St. Mary’s

Danielle Shubat (Sr.) – St. Mary’s

Tara Ludwig (Sr.) – Elgin

SPORTMANSHIP: Weston-McEwen

FINAL NOTES: Pacific University demonstrated its commitment to hosting this tournament on a long-term basis when it literally drilled new holes into its gym floor to accommodate side-by-side courts, eliminating the horrific “Court 2” situation of years past. For the first time, both bleachers were fully extended, giving ample seating room for fans and playing areas unobstructed by rows of folding chairs typically seen in weekend club tourneys. With this singular move, Pacific University removed a major source of grief and now has a small school tournament venue as good as any.

How good are the 2A coaches in ranking teams? The small, but tight knit 2A coaching fraternity seems to know their respective teams fairly well. The top six teams in the final 2A coaches’ poll went home with all six OSAA trophies. Here is the final poll listing, followed by their eventual finish – in part due to inevitable bracket pairings.

FINAL 2A COACHES POLL – 11/3/09

1. Blanchet Catholic (finished 1st)

2. Weston-McEwen (finished 4th)

3. St. Mary’s (finished 3rd)

4. Elgin (finished 6th)

5. Corbett (finished 5th)

6. Salem Academy (finished 2nd)