VALE – This season, the Vale volleyball squad downed Burns, 3-1, on September 24 in Burns. The Vikings again won 3-1 on October 8, this time in Vale. Beating the Hilanders a third time was not to be for the Viks as Burns beat Vale, 3-1 on the Vale home court, claiming the 3A-6 Eastern Oregon League title and a top seed into the state tournament.
Taking the floor, there is little new to either of these teams. Burns coach Paula Toney and Vale coach Shannon Steele are two of the longest tenured coaches in the 3A ranks. In addition to Vale and Burns meeting twice each season in league play, the Hilanders and Vikings usually run into each other during tournaments. The players call each other by first names.
Burns started the match with a game one win. The Hilanders led early on before the Vale took the lead at the 10-9 mark. Burns took back the lead at the 20-19 mark for good and due to a service error on the part of the Vikings, the Hilanders claimed a 25-22 win.

The Viks dominated game two, leading from the first point and never relinquishing the lead. Vale cruised to an easy 25-15 victory, evening up the match.
Though not quite as easy, Burns repaid the favor in game three, winning 25-15. The two teams traded the lead back and forth in the early going before the Hilanders took the lead for good at 8-7.
To the crowd, equally split between the Vikings on one side and the Hilanders on the opposite side, it appeared early in the fourth set the match would go into a fifth and deciding set. Vale led early, pulling ahead by as many as four point. Burns started to close the gap and finally tied up the score at 12 points. In the second half of the set, the points belonged to the Hilanders, led by vicious kills by Allie Hieckman. In the end, a 25-21 fourth set win claimed the match and the title for Burns.

“We need to learn how to overcome adversity,” said Steele. “We had a good week of practice, but just did not stick with our game plan.”
For the match, Vale found perfect serving from Alissa Fulwyler, Demia Hardin, Emmersyn Johnson, Maycee Delong, Tyanna Noron and Sierra Cleaver. Fulwyler also accounted for four aces while Norton notched three aces.
“We received tremendous play by Alissa,” Steele said. “She had some amazing saves and impressive defense.”
Lexi Cleaver led the Vale offense with seven kills. Norton and Hardin added six kills each.
Jaymeson Jensen had 14 assists.
Steele also gave credit to the bench work of Amber Tolman for the day.
“She came off the bench with some amazing passing,” Steele said of Tolman.

Statistics for Burns were not available.
With the title, Burns will host the first round of the state tournament. Vale will learn of the team’s fate after the rankings close at 10 p.m. Tuesday night. It is probable the Vikings will be in for a long bus ride across the state for first round action.
The victory places Burns seventh in the state rankings. Vale, with the loss, fell to 13th in the recent rankings. Santiam Christian, perfect on the season at 22-0, remains atop the standings.
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