Joseph volleyball prepares for Wildcats in playoffs

Published 12:41 pm Monday, October 23, 2023

JOSEPH — Fans of Joseph volleyball will sit in the home stands as the Eagles playoff road toward a state title begins on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in the Eagle gym.

Entering the state 1A tournament with the fifth seed, Joseph welcomes the Southwest Christian Wildcats with the first serve heading over the net at 6 p.m.

Joseph starts state action after finishing runner-up in the recent 1A Old Oregon League tournament held Saturday, Oct. 21 in the Baker High School gym.

Southwest Christian makes the trip to Joseph after finishing third in the 1A Valley 10 League. The Wildcats bring a 14-9 overall record to the match with a season of runs both positive and negative.

Southwest Christian started a seven-match win streak at the end of August but also saw a four-match loss skid in the first week of October. The Wildcats arrive in Joseph having won their last three games including a must-win to knock off Open Door Christian Academy. For its efforts, Southwest Christian was given the No. 28 seed in the 32-team 1A tournament.

Joseph took the long route, playing in Saturday’s 1A Old Oregon League tournament. The Eagles opened play early in the morning, downing Cove, 3-0. The initial two sets remained close with Joseph winning by identical scores of 25-20 and advanced in the tournament with a 25-11 third set win.

In an upset, the Eagles then defeated the Union Bobcats, 3-1. Joseph shocked Union in set one, winning 25-13 with the Bobcats returning in the second set to even the match, taking a 25-18 victory. Joseph was back in the third, reversing the score for a 25-18 win and closed out the match with a 25-19 fourth set win.

Taking the floor for the third match of the day and the Old Oregon League tournament title, the Eagles met to top-seeded Powder Valley Badgers. The Badgers grabbed set one, 25-17 with the second set forced into extra points before the Eagles evened the match with a 27-25 victory. Powder Valley was back in the third set, winning 25-22 and claimed the league title in a fourth set 25-23 squeaker.

Eagles slip in pollJust days before the Joseph volleyball team opens action in the first round of the 1A volleyball tournament, the state’s coaches have dropped the Eagles down to sixth in the most recent poll.

The newest coaches’ poll, released Monday, Oct. 23, has the Eagles slipping from last poll’s fourth-place showing down to sixth.

Crane continues to lead the polling followed by Trinity Lutheran and Powder Valley. Umpqua Valley Christian sits in fourth with St. Paul just ahead of the Eagles in fifth.