Sports
7A
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Th e Observer
‘We’ve got a
good thing
going’
DAVIS
CARBAUGH
CARBAUGH’S CORNER
Starting at
The Observer
would like to take this oppor-
tunity to formally introduce
myself as your newest reporter
at The Observer, Davis Carbaugh.
I’ve hit the ground running since
starting early in May, so I may
have met some of you already. I
will be covering sports and news
here in the Grande Ronde Valley.
Moving from Virginia to
Oregon has been an amazing
journey, one that has given me
great perspective. I have already
met some wonderful people
through fi nding sources for sto-
ries, and the people of La Grande
have been so welcoming.
A little bit about me: I am a
recent graduate of Virginia Tech
University, where I studied mul-
timedia journalism with a sports
media and analytics concentra-
tion. I worked as a sports writer
for four years, and as a sports
editor my senior year I covered
just about every sport you can
imagine. I came into that program
as a kid who was good at writing
and passionate about sports, but
left as a reporter in love with
telling a story.
That’s exactly the angle I’m
looking at in my position at The
Observer, fi nding local athletes
and news stories that deserve
being told. I’m very excited about
the prospect of covering sports
here at the high school and colle-
giate level.
The Observer and I have a goal
to focus on feature stories rather
than lengthy recaps, and I am
eager to shine a light on athletes
in the area. With that being said,
I would love anyone’s help with
leads, score updates or ideas for
newsworthy stories. I’m always
open to ideas. I’ll be covering
news and sports, so I’m all ears
when it comes to story ideas or
even critiques on stories with my
byline you see in the paper.
As for how the experience has
been in La Grande, I have been
more than pleased with my time
so far. Phil Wright and Andrew
Cutler as editors have been
helpful and insightful leaders of
the newsroom, while Alex Wit-
twer, Dick Mason and Lisa Lester
Kelly have been wonderful to
work with.
The people and this town have
given me so much perspective, as
I come from a place very diff erent
than here. The one thing that hon-
estly sticks out to me is how gen-
erally kind people are here, com-
pared to other places I have been.
That makes reaching out and
writing stories a lot easier and
more enjoyable.
As a writer, my passion is to
bring stories worth telling to life.
Being in La Grande and working
for The Observer gives me that
opportunity, and I am grateful for
that. I look forward to growing as
a writer here, helping our publica-
tion and being a part of the com-
munity in Union County.
———
Davis Carbaugh covers news
and sports for The Observer. He
can be contacted at dcarbaugh@
lagrandeobserver.com.
Oregon State coach
Jonathan Smith holds
individual player
meetings, says message
is positive
I
By NICK DASCHEL
The Oregonian
The Observer, File
Eastern Oregon’s Kiley McMurtrey reaches for a dig during a 2019 match against Multnomah. McMurtrey, a fi fth-year
senior libero, is transferring to play NCAA Division I at the University of Utah.
A lasting legacy
EOU’s Kiley McMurtrey transfers to Pac-12’s University of Utah
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Eastern
Oregon University volleyball
standout Kiley McMurtrey is
one of the most decorated vol-
leyball players in program his-
tory — and she is now taking
her talents to Division I.
The fi fth-year senior libero
is transferring to play NCAA
Division I volleyball at the Uni-
versity of Utah, where she will
also be a part of the school’s
Master’s Program for Speech,
Language and Pathology. The
Utes compete in the Pac-12, one
of the top conferences in the
country.
NAIA eligibility rules grant
players an extra year of eligi-
bility due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
McMurtrey exits the EOU
volleyball program at the top of
the list in all-time career digs
with 2,150 and service aces with
132.
“I think one of the biggest
things I brought to the team was
just a fi re and competitiveness
when we played,” she said.
From the beginning of her
Mountaineer career, McMurtrey
hit the ground running. The
Idaho Falls, Idaho, native played
in all 35 games her freshman
year and won 2017 Cascade Col-
legiate Conference Freshman
of the Year. Refl ecting back,
McMurtrey noted how stressed
and anxious she was at the
beginning of her college career.
“I was hyper-focused,” she
said. “As a person I feel like I’ve
relaxed a lot and been able to
fi gure out how to enjoy myself
while I’ve been here, too.”
In 2020, McMurtrey recorded
a team high 24 aces, which
was good for second best in the
CCC. She also led the confer-
ence with 5.15 digs per set.
Following an EOU run to
the quarterfi nals of the 2020
NAIA tournament, McMurtrey
was awarded honorable men-
tion All-American. She was also
named CCC Libero of the Year
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Kiley McMurtrey stands in Quinn Coliseum at Eastern Oregon University, just
weeks before she is set to move to Utah to begin her post-graduate career and
a spot on the Utes volleyball team. The NAIA All-American is the all-time career
leader in digs and service aces at EOU.
for the third year in a row.
“This year at nationals was
really fun for me,” she said. “I’ll
always remember the bigger
games we played.”
Off the court, McMurtrey
excels in the classroom, win-
ning 2019 CCC Scholar Athlete
of the Year. The award is given
to the conference’s top academic
athlete across all sports.
McMurtrey holds a 4.0 GPA
and earned a degree in both
physical activity and health and
elementary education.
Eastern volleyball head
coach Kaki McLean-More-
head credits McMurtrey for
helping lead the team academ-
ically. McMurtrey has been on
See, McMurtrey/Page 8A
CORVALLIS — Oregon State’s
2021 spring football practices
ended May 8, but it did not con-
clude the spring-time process for
coach Jonathan Smith.
During the past two weeks,
Smith met with each player indi-
vidually in his offi ce for what
can be described as an annual
checkup. It’s a free-fl owing dis-
cussion, as Smith is as eager to
learn things as the player.
After meeting with all but a
few players on the roster, Smith
says there’s a common theme.
“We’ve got a good thing
going,” he said. “These guys feel
like this place has helped them
grow.”
Players are handed a worksheet
with questions prior to meeting
with Smith. They fi rst meet with
their position coach, then Smith.
The discussion with the OSU
head coach ranges from team
chemistry, their favorite and least
favorite parts of program, summer
goals, improvement methods and
where they currently stand. Smith
asks them about “programmatic
setup,” from weight room, training
room and academics. Mental
health and school progress are dis-
cussed. For older players, where
they’re at in terms of graduating
and post-school plans.
“I appreciate their opinions.
I’ve found a good amount of stuff
that we can tighten up and make
better around here,” Smith said.
Also coming from the meet-
ings are discussions as to where a
player stands at his position. Occa-
sionally, it evolves into a player
moving positions, such as receiver
Jesiah Irish to cornerback. Smith
said there are no other position
changes brewing, but off season
weight gains or losses can turn to
talk of a position switch during
camp.
The individual assessments
also can lead to a few players con-
sidering the transfer portal.
Since spring practice ended,
defensive tackles Evan Bennett
and Jordan Whittley and tight
end Bryce Bramscher entered the
portal. Smith said it wouldn’t sur-
prise him if more opt for the portal
because that’s the business of col-
lege football in 2021.
Personnel updates for fall:
Smith expects fewer than a
handful of players to be out or
limited when preseason camp
commences Aug. 6. One is off en-
sive lineman Brock Wellsfry, who
graduated this year and decided to
call it a career. Another is safety
Johnathan Riley, who had surgery
for an ACL tear and is expected to
miss the 2021 season.
Off ensive lineman Joe Quillin
and defensive lineman Sebastian
Briski will not be ready for the
start of camp.
Barring a setback, Smith
See, OSU/Page 8A
SPORTS SHORT
Ducks to open 2021 season Sept. 4 vs. Fresno State
Eugene Register-Guard
EUGENE — Oregon fans can
start planning the fi rst tailgate at
Autzen Stadium since Justin Her-
bert’s fi nal game in Eugene on Nov.
30, 2019.
And it’s going to be an early
one.
The Pac-12 announced
Thursday, May 27, the Ducks’
home opener against Fresno State
on Sept. 4 will kick off at 11 a.m.
on the Pac-12 Networks.
Oregon’s Sept. 18 home game
against Stony Brook is at 4:30 p.m.
on the Pac-12 Networks, and the
Oct. 15 home game against Cali-
fornia under the Friday night lights
is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Oregon athletic director Rob
Mullens is optimistic capacity
crowds will be roaring again this
fall at Autzen.
“I have been riding on the hope
wave for quite a while,” Mullens
said during a recent interview with
the Register-Guard. “I am hopeful
that vaccination is in fact the path
to a full Autzen.”
Oregon’s marquee nonconfer-
ence game at Ohio State on Sept.
11 was previously announced as the
“Big Noon Kickoff ” matchup on
Fox starting at 9 a.m.
“We’re going to go into the teeth
of it into the Horseshoe,” Mullens
said. “The kick time is not ideal,
even though it is a big platform, but
I’m confi dent that our staff and our
student-athletes will be ready. And
I can’t wait to get to the fi rst game.”
The Ducks played only two
home games in 2020, wins over
Stanford and UCLA, without fans
allowed inside Autzen.
Sean Meagher/The Oregonian, File
Oregon wide receiver Devon Williams (2) tries to avoid a tackle during a
game against UCLA in November 2020.