OSAA volleyball: Salem Academy wins 2A state title; Cascade second in 4A

The OSAA volleyball state tournament matches have wrapped up and local teams from the Mid-Valley competed deep into this year's tournament across classifications.

Salem Academy wins 2A championship

Salem Academy repeated as Class 2A state champion with a 3-2 win against Monroe on Saturday night.

Emma Brewer had 26 kills, and Aly Herber had 22 kills in the 25-15, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 15-12 victory.

Salem Academy finishes the season with a 26-5 overall record. They went unbeaten in their last eight matches, including four in the state playoffs.

On Friday, Salem Academy cruised past Culver 3-0 to reach the state title match.

Salem Academy won the semifinal 25-22, 25-20, 25-23.

Earlier Friday, Salem Academy cruised past Willamina in the quarterfinals 25-22, 25-20, 25-17.

-Pete Martini

Cascade falls in 4A state title match

SPRINGFIELD — For the second straight year, the Cascade volleyball team found itself competing for the state title in the OSAA Class 4A state tournament.

While the Cougars celebrated after winning their first state title in program history in 2021, this time around it was their counterparts.

Marshfield — a school from Coos Bay — defeated the Cougars, 25-14, 25-23, 25-16, to win the program's first state championship at Springfield High School on Saturday night.

On Friday, the Cougars beat Mazama 3-0 on to advance to the title match. Cascade won 25-19, 25-15, 25-19.

Earlier Friday, Cascade took care of Henley 3-0 to advance to the state semifinals. Cascade beat Henley 25-10, 25-17, 25-9.

"They are great, young and amazing," Cascade head coach Cristina Williams said when asked about competing against Marshfield. "I knew it was going to be a battle. I've seen them play earlier and they have strong hitters. Pretty incredible people."

Although the outcome was not what the Cougars or their fans were hoping for, the team still celebrated their smaller victories.

One of those was senior co-captain Lucretia Benolken, who was named the Moda Health Player of the Match.

Benolken was among the five returners along with the addition of senior Melody West, who was on the junior varsity squad the year prior.

"It's incredible," WIlliams said. "It's hard to get to any state title match, and the fact that we got here again even though things weren't on our side this year."

The Cougars hit a bump two matches into the season after Benolken suffered a knee injury, which turned out to be a torn ACL.

Freshman Emma Kirschenmann stepped up to fill the role, while Benolken was still a crucial piece well into the season, and despite that, the Cougars finished with an 18-4 overall record, 10-0 league record and as Oregon West Conference champions.

"It's pretty impressive with how much adversity that we had to face," Benolken said. "With changing our lineup and getting injured to make it to where we did.

"Making it to the championship was our goal, and I'm just impressed with every single one of them."

Cascade is no stranger to second place. Back in 2013, the Cougars placed second in their first state title appearance behind Crook County.

Williams, who has coached at Cascade since 2010, never lost hope until that day in 2021 came.

"Maybe some craziness," Williams said jokingly on what has kept her as a head coach. "I love the relationships I've built with the girls. The family relationship I built and being that mentor for these girls that's really what it is.

"I always tell them I'm raising strong women, and that's what it means to me."

- Edith Noriega

Sprague season ends in 6A consolation

The Olympians’ season came to an end Saturday with a consolation loss to Oregon City.

Sprague lost 25-20, 25-15, 25-15.

On Friday, No. 9 Olympians lost in five sets to No. 1 Jesuit on Friday morning in the Class 6A state quarterfinals.

Sprague lost 23-25, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23, 15-12.

“I’m so proud of how our girls showed up today against Jesuit. We came out guns blazing and gave Jesuit a tough match,” Sprague coach Anne Olsen said after the loss to Jesuit. “I’m so impressed that our girls kept the fighting spirit throughout the whole match."

Silverton falls in 5A consolation

The Foxes lost 3-2 to South Albany on Saturday in the consolation round.

Silverton lost 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13.

On Friday, the Foxes fell to Bend in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.

Silverton lost 25-12, 25-20, 25-15.

St. Paul places third in 1A

The Buckaroos beat Rogue Valley Adventist Academy 3-1 to take third place in Class 1A.

They won 25-18, 25-20, 24-26, 30-28.

On Friday, the Buckaroos fell to North Douglas 3-1 in the state semifinals.

St. Paul lost 25-15, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19. Earlier on Friday, the Buckaroos made quick work of Powder Valley in a 3-0 quarterfinal win.

St. Paul won 25-17, 25-21, 25-21.

Class 6A (at Forest Grove)

Friday quarterfinals

Jesuit 3, Sprague 2

Nelson 3, Oregon City 1

Sheldon 3, South Medford 1

Westview 3, Roseburg 1

Friday semifinals

Jesuit 3, Nelson 2

Sheldon 3, Westview 1

Saturday consolation

Oregon City 3, Sprague 0

Roseburg 3, South Medford 1

Saturday fourth-place match

Oregon City 3, Roseburg 0

Saturday third-place match

Nelson 3, Westview 0

Saturday championship

Sheldon 3, Jesuit 1

Class 5A (at Forest Grove) 

Friday quarterfinals

Wilsonville 3, South Albany 2

Bend 3, Silverton 0

Crater 3, La Salle 0

Crescent Valley 3, West Albany 2

Friday semifinals

Bend 3, Wilsonville 1

Crescent Valley 3, Crater 1

Saturday consolation

South Albany 3, Silverton 2

West Albany 3, La Salle 2

Saturday fourth-place match

West Albany 3, South Albany 0

Saturday third-place match

Wilsonville 3, Crater 0

Saturday championship

Crescent Valley 3, Bend 0

Class 4A (at Springfield) 

Friday quarterfinals

Marshfield 3, Crook County 2

Baker 3, Tillamook 1

Mazama 3, The Dalles 2

Cascade 3, Henley 0

Friday semifinals

Marshfield 3, Baker 0

Cascade 3, Mazama 0

Saturday consolation

Crook County 3, Tillamook 0

Henley 3, The Dalles 2

Saturday fourth-place match

Crook County 3, Henley 2

Saturday third-place match

Mazama 3, Baker 1

Saturday championship

Marshfield 3, Cascade 0

Class 3A (at Springfield) 

Friday quarterfinals

Sisters 3, St. Mary’s 0

Valley Catholic 3, Horizon Christian 1

Burns 3, Santiam Christian 2

Siuslaw 3, Creswell 0

Friday semifinals

Valley Catholic 3, Sisters 0

Burns 3, Siuslaw 0

Saturday consolation

Horizon Christian 3, St. Mary’s 1

Santiam Christian 3, Creswell 1

Saturday fourth-place match

Horizon Christian 3, Santiam Christian 2

Saturday third-place match

Sisters 3, Siuslaw 0

Saturday championship

Valley Catholic 3, Burns 0

Class 2A (at Ridgeview)

Friday quarterfinals

Salem Academy 3, Willamina 0

Culver 3, Oakland 0

Gaston 3, Stanfield 2

Monroe 3, Oakridge 0

Friday semifinals

Salem Academy 3, Culver 0

Monroe 3, Gaston 0

Saturday consolation

Oakland 3, Willamina 2

Stanfield 3, Oakridge 2

Saturday fourth-place match

Stanfield 3, Oakland 0

Saturday third-place match

Culver 3, Gaston 1

Saturday championship

Salem Academy 3, Monroe 2

Class 1A (at Ridgeview)

Friday quarterfinals

Damascus Christian 3, Umpqua Valley Christian 0

Rogue Valley Adventist Academy 3, North Clackamas Christian 0

St. Paul 3, Powder Valley 0

North Douglas 3, Crane 2

Friday semifinals

Damascus Christian 3, Rogue Valley Adventist Academy 2

North Douglas 3, St. Paul 1

Saturday consolation

North Clackamas Christian 3, Umpqua Valley Christian 0

Crane 3, Powder Valley 2

Saturday fourth-place match

Crane 3, North Clackamas Christian 0

Saturday third-place match

St. Paul 3, Rogue Valley Adventist Academy 1

Saturday championship

Damascus Christian 3, North Douglas 2

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Academy wins 2A state volleyball title; Cascade 2nd in 4A