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VALE – For teams in the Eastern Oregon League, a good bet is to make reservations for Burns for the district tournament. After downing the Vale Vikings on Tuesday, Oct. 5 in three sets, the Hilanders will play on their home court for the district title.
Burns started the match quickly as left-handed Macy Temple served four consecutive points before the Vikings hit the score board. Burns cruised through the first set, never trailing and after a mishit by Vale, the Hilanders grabbed a first set win, 25-11.
The Vikings led briefly at the start of set two, but the Hilanders grabbed back the lead at the 6-5 juncture and never looked back, winning 25-14.
Photo Gallery – Vale v Burns – John Braese
The third set started like the first with Temple serving the initial four points of the set. The Vikings fired back and took the lead at the 12-11 mark after Ali Aldred hit the service line and put together six consecutive points for Vale. The Hilanders were back in the set as the two teams tied at 15. The Burns offense then took over, taking a 25-20 victory in the set and the match win.
Kaitlyn Wright led the Burns offense, terrorizing the Vale defense with 13 kills. Mackenzie King added nine kills and ended the match with three aces. Freshman Akylah Kaino led from the serving line with five aces while adding five blocks.
King also had 10 digs and Macy Temple added seven digs. Ashley Wright recorded 22 assists.
As a team, the Hilanders served at 83 percent.
For Vale, serving was led by Aldred’s 14-for-14 and Maddy Churchill going 10-for-10. The team served at 82 percent. Aldred added 19 assists to lead the Viks.
Taleah Zueger tallied 10 digs followed by Churchill with seven and Bahlie Morales also with seven.
Kailey McGourty and JoJo Cleaver led the Viking offense, each with six kills.
