Outlaws headed to state playoffs

The Lady Outlaws hosted Cottage Grove in a play-in game at Sisters High School on Saturday, November 2. They bested the Lions in a three-set sweep with scores of 25-16, 25-22, and 25-20.

Sisters will advance to the state tournament, which will be held at Forest Grove High School on Friday and Saturday, November 8-9, where the final eight teams will compete for a championship trophy. The Outlaws first game will be against league foe Philomath at 10 a.m. on Friday.

In the first set against the Lions on Saturday, teams kept the score close. With the score tied 11-11 Sam Silva headed back to the service line and served up an ace to give the Outlaws a 12-11 lead. The next play, Greta Davis had a big stuff block and Sisters went up by two. Sam served the Outlaws to a lead of 17-11. Sisters held onto the momentum and the Lions couldn’t close the gap.

Sisters went down 0-5 at the start of the second set, and at 3-8 Coach Rory Rush called timeout. The Outlaws regained their focus, earned the sideout and Sydney Myhre went back to serve. Sydney served the next six points to give the Outlaws a one-point advantage. Teams again battled back and forth until Addy Myhre went back to serve with the score even at 15-15. Addy served the Outlaws to a four-point lead, 19-15. The Lions made a run and closed the gap to 23-22, but Sam Silva served out the game and the Outlaws posted a second-set win.

The Outlaws battled from behind in the third set, and down by four at 9-13, Rush again called a timeout. Sisters worked hard, and an ace from Sophie Silva finally tied it up 18-18. Sam Silva had a tip kill the next play to give the Outlaws the go-ahead point at 19-18. Sisters buckled down, focused and closed out the match with a kill from Natalie Sitz.

Davis led the team with 12 kills and six blocks. Sophie Silva recorded 11 kills and four blocks, and Sam Silva added nine kills and four aces.

Rush said, “Tonight showed growth from everyone. Early in the season we would have been rattled being down 0-5, but tonight we were able to stay calm and focus on what we needed to do. We focused on good serving and finding holes in their offense. I’m very proud of the girls and looking forward to being back in Forest Grove.”