REDMOND — The Joseph volleyball team bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to claim sixth place as the Eagles closed out their season at the 1A state volleyball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.

The Eagles opened play on Friday, Nov. 3, losing to Umpqua Valley Christian in four sets. After dropping the first set by a 25-16 score, the Eagles rallied to take the second set 25-12. But the momentum didn’t last, as Umpqua Valley won the third and fourth sets, 25-11 and 25-20, pushing the Eagles into the consolation bracket.

Up early on Saturday, Nov. 4, the Eagles faced the High Desert team from Adrian in consolation action.

The first set went back and forth early and was forced into extra points before Joseph sat down with a 26-24 first-set win. The second set again saw the two teams battle again playing past the 25-point mark with Joseph finally taking a 27-25 win. Using the momentum from the two long sets, Joseph advanced with a 25-16 third set win.

In the consolation finals and the battle for fourth place in the state 1A ranks, Joseph faced third-seeded Trinity Lutheran. In a five-set match, the Eagles fell, and finished in sixth place for the tournament.

Joseph appeared sluggish in the first set with Trinity Lutheran cruising 25-7. Playing in the second set, Joseph again saw a set go into extra points, losing a 27-25 battle to give Trinity Lutheran a 2-0 set lead.

But the Eagles rallied: The third set also required extra points, as Joseph claimed a 30-28 victory. The Eagles evened the match at two sets each with a 25-21 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set. But Trinity Lutheran claimed victory in that set, and the match, with a 15-10 win.

“The girls did an amazing job,” said Joseph coach Jill Hite of the tournament. “This is the first time this group has made the state tournament. We are pretty evenly balanced with sophomores and seniors so this was an exciting time for all.”

Hite said the Eagles caught fire as a team in the match versus Adrian.

“Our seniors, Aimee Meyers, Lakotah Steel, Abby Orr and Cooper Nave, really took over during the Adrian game and led us to the win,” Hite said. “We really stepped up our game and I thought Cooper really showed up against Adrian.”

For her efforts during the tournament, Nave was named to the 1A All-Tournament Team, the lone Eagle receiving the honor.

“Our sophomores gained a lot this year,” said Hite. “We will return four starters from this year to the court next season. It was exciting to see the Old Oregon and High Desert Leagues so well-represented at the tournament.”

The work the Joseph team put in at the tournament came after a season that covered many long hours and over 3,000 miles of sitting in a bus, Hite said.

“We attended many tournaments and slept many nights in classrooms to get where we are,” she said.

Joseph ended the season with a 25-11 overall record and a second-place finish in the 1A Old Oregon League standings.