Badgers Volleyball Make Road Trip Count

ADRIAN – If you are going on a road trip for volleyball, make it count. That is exactly what took place as the Powder Valley Badgers made the trip to Adrian on Friday, October 1, to take down not just one, but two higher ranked teams.

Pulling into the Adrian parking lot, the Badgers held the tenth spot in the OSAA 1A state rankings. For the day, Powder Valley faced #7 Jordan Valley and #9 Adrian Antelopes, the host team-tall order for a team on the road and playing back-to-back matches against higher ranked opponents.

Meeting the Mustangs initially, game one saw the two teams go back and forth with ten occasions where the score stood tied. The Badgers finally took the lead for good at the 18-17 and with a kill by Jaycee Anderson, claimed the first set, 25-22.

Game two started much the same with the lead changing hands. The Badgers gained the momentum at the 5-4 mark and started to build a lead. Up by six points at 15-9, Powder Valley saw Jordan Valley battle back. An ace by Mustang Meg Eiguren pulled Jordan Valley to within a single point at 18-17. With the energy going their way, Jordan Valley continued off Eiguren’s serve and built a five-point lead. The Badgers came back to knot up the score at 23, but the Mustangs took the set after a Powder Valley shot went into the net. Jordan Valley won, 25-23 and the two teams were all knotted up at one set each.

Related: Powder Valley v Jordan Valley – Volleyball – John Braese

The loss woke up the Badgers and in the third set, Powder Valley dominated at the net, winning 25-21. The fourth and final set was another battle with the two teams trading the lead. In the end, Powder Valley downed the higher ranked Mustangs, 25-22 for the match.

After a quick meal, the Badgers were again on the court against the tenth-ranked Antelopes. Having an easier time of it, Powder Valley downed the Lopes in three sets, 25-16, 25-20, 25-15.

Looking at the rankings on Sunday, Oct.3, Powder Valley should travel more often. The two wins propelled the Badgers to seventh in the OSAA rankings. Adrian fell one spot to #11 while Jordan Valley fell to 19th after bouncing back and defeating Harper on Saturday, Oct. 2.