IRRIGON – Life is a little rough come district tournament time when on the road, fighting for a chance to stay in the tournament.
The Nyssa volleyball team made the trip to Irrigon Tuesday, fighting for the chance to meet the second seeded Burns Hilanders this upcoming Saturday. Nyssa and Irrigon split during the regular season.
Game one went the way of the Knights, 25-17 with the Bulldogs fighting back in the second set to even up the match, winning 25-23. Irrigon jumped out in game three, winning 25-20 and advanced to meet the Hilanders later this week by taking game four, 25-14.
“We played like a team to take the win,” said Irrigon coach Vanessa Pacheco. “We were aggressive at the net and our defense was ready for the tips.”
Senior Haley White came through big during the match, recording 21 kills and serving six aces. Junior Makenna Collins served seven aces and added 32 digs. Junior Emma Mueller ended with 37 assists.
Freshman Clarissa DeLoera, in her first district tournament, had five kills and two aces and junior Alyssa Luna added five kills and a single ace.
The Knights now become the road team, traveling to Vale on Saturday to take on the Hilanders. The winner will meet Vale 45 minutes after the Knights/Hilanders match.
Nyssa ends the season with an 8-14 overall record and a 5-5 league record.
In the loss, sophomore Brooklyn Johns and senior Nicole Lambie both ended with nine kills. Senior Syriah Trujillo added 19 digs.
“I am super proud in what we are building together in this program,” said Nyssa coach Maddie Speelmon-Hewett. “Even though I lose five seniors this year, we are still solid in the athletes that are coming up. We are just taking everything that we have learned from this year and making ourselves better next year.”
Nyssa will return seven players with varsity experience from this year’s squad.
“It is very key to have our younger generation started and learn the game of volleyball and that is what we are doing her at Nyssa,” Speelmon-Hewett said. “We are building a program from the ground up all together. I am so proud. I don’t want to be anywhere but where I am right now. I love the memories that each year gives me.”
Stay with easternoregonsports.com for complete coverage of the Eastern Oregon League volleyball playoffs on Saturday.
