Bentz Insurance provides premier coverage for farm, ranch, business, home, and auto.
Serving clients throughout the western Treasure Valley including Ontario, Burns, Vale, Nyssa, Jordan Valley, Baker, John Day, as well as western Idaho. Give us a call at 541-473-4210
John L. Braese
A number of teams in this year’s Big Sky volleyball league will have a chance to pick up an early look at each other as the Dufur Classic opens play Sept. 1. Scheduled to attend are the host Rangers, Glenwood/Klickitat, and Ione/Arlington.
League champions South Wasco County starts the new year off facing a team that knocked them out of the state tournament and Spray/Mitchell/Wheeler also get the new season off facing a team from last year’s past.
Numerous Big Sky squads will to last year’s junior varsity squads to fill the varsity roster this season.
Bickleton
2022-23 Record: 3-14 Overall, 3-14 League
League Finish: 9th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 64th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 2
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 2 sophomores, 2 juniors and 2 seniors
Season Opener: Tuesday, Aug. 29 hosting Lyle/Wishram
Comments: The Pirates, like many in the league, play a limited schedule and as of today, have no tournaments scheduled. Bickleton returns a core group of players for the season, a squad that kept matches close last season.
2022-23 Record: 5-14 Overall, 4-9 League
League Finish: 7th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 60th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 2
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 2 sophomores, 2 juniors and 3 seniors
Season Opener: Thursday, September 7 at Dayville/Monument/Long Creek
Comments: The Blue Devils look to build on a good end to last season as Condon won their final two matches to finish up the year. Condon will pick up chance for play outside their league, hosting the Summit Springs Tournament starting Sept. 16, a chance for home fans to catch some volleyball action.
2022-23 Record: 6-12 Overall, 6-7 League
League Finish: 6th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 49th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 2
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 4 sophomores, 3 juniors and 1 senior
Season Opener: Thursday, August 24 at Weston-McEwen
Comments: The Rangers finished up last season with a play-in loss to Sherman, Dufur’s second loss of the year to the Huskies. The Rangers get off to a quick start to this year, playing both Weston-McEwen and Imbler in the TigerScots’ gym on Thursday, Aug. 24. A good showing to open the season will go a long way towards a good season.
Glenwood/Klickitat
2022-23 Record: 14-9 Overall, 11-5 League
League Finish: 5th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 34th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 5
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 5 sophomores, 4 juniors and 4 seniors
Season Opener: Saturday, Sept. 2 in tournament play at the Dufur Classic
Comments: Glenwood/Klickitat showed a nice win streak last season, winning eight league matches in a row before dropping their final three matches. Scheduled to return 13 players with experience and the face the Eagles know how to win should prove good things for the upcoming season.
2022-23 Record: 0-21 Overall, 0-15 League
League Finish: 10th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 74th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 2
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 6 sophomores, 4 juniors and 2 seniors
Season Opener: Saturday, August 26 in tournament play at CS Lewis Academy
Comments: A very young Hawks squad saw only three sets go their way last season. Scheduled to return 12 players with court experience, Horizon Christian/Hood River should see better results this year with an early tournament appearance at CS Lewis Academy starting Saturday, Aug. 26. A win will set the stage for a better year.
2022-23 Record: 19-6 Overall, 11-2 League
League Finish: 2nd
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 18th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 2
Returnees: Scheduled to return at 2 sophomores, 3 juniors and 5 seniors
Season Opener: Saturday, September 2 in tournament play at Dufur Classic
Comments: The Cardinals are back this season after ending last year with a first-round loss to Central Christian in state playoffs. Down two sets, Ione/Arlington fought back to win sets three and four before falling in the fifth and final set, 11-15. Losing only two to graduation, the Cardinals should be right back at the forefront of a league title.
Lyle/Wishram
2022-23 Record: 4-13 Overall, 4-11 League
League Finish: 8th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 65th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 4
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 3 sophomores, 2 juniors and 5 seniors
Season Opener: Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Bickleton
Comments:Lyle/Wishram is scheduled to return experience on the court this season even after the graduation of four players last May. The Cougars open the season versus Bickleton, a squad Lyle/Wishram defeated two of the three times the two teams met last year. Home fans will need to wait until Sept. 5 to see the Cougars when Bickleton is in town.
2022-23 Record: 18-6 Overall, 11-3 League
League Finish: 3rd
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 22nd
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 6
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 1 sophomore, 2 juniors and 3 seniors
Season Opener: Tuesday, August 29 at Echo
Comments: The Huskies look at a season without six faces lost to graduation and a team that made the state playoffs. Sherman is a volleyball town with an additional 12 players on the junior varsity squad last season ready to make the jump to varsity. Don’t be surprised to see the Huskies again in the state tournament.
2022-23 Record: 23-7 Overall, 14-0 League
League Finish: 1st
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 11th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 4
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 2 sophomores, 1 junior and 4 seniors
Season Opener: Tuesday, August 29 at Powder Valley
Comments: The league champion Redsides made it to the second round of the state tournament last season, falling to Powder Valley. Starting off the season this year with a bang, South Wasco and Powder Valley will stage a repeat on Aug. 29. The Redsides are an additional team with a large junior varsity squad last season ready to make the jump to varsity.
2022-23 Record: 12-12 Overall, 8-6 League
League Finish: 4th
2022-23 Final State Ranking: 30th
Seniors Lost To Graduation: 3
Returnees: Scheduled to return are 3 sophomores, 3 juniors and 3 seniors
Season Opener: Thursday, August 24 at Central Christian versus both North Clackamas Christian and Central Christian
Comments: The Rattlers are another team starting the season off with a chance to avenge the last match of last season. Spray/Mitchell/Wheeler fell to North Clackamas Christian in round one of the state playoffs to end the season and again meet the same team to start this year. Two wins on opening day would set the season off to a good start.
Before you go! If you would like to support continuing and expanded high school sports coverage in eastern Oregon for as little as $1 a month click below! Thank you!
