Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Page A-3
I.V. soccer stars battered and bruised
Tristan Stocker
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley girls’
soccer team (1-3) has hit a
rough patch, losing most
recently to the Lakeview
Honkers (3-2) last Wednesday
with a final score of 0-7 and
before that Cascade Christian
(3-1) and St. Mary’s, Medford
(4-1) with final scores of 0-8
and 0-7, respectively.
“It’s typical,” said head
coach Dick Matti, “especially
with Cascade and St. Mary’s.
They have large squads and
we have small squads. And
out of 15 players, we have
seven freshmen. We only have
one senior, Gabby Rapley, and
she is double-sporting soccer
and volleyball.”
Matti began his coaching
career in Grants Pass 33 years
ago because his daughter
was involved in the sport, so
when she got to high school
at North Valley, he started the
first girls’ soccer program in
Josephine County.
“I coach because I like
it. I like coaching; I like the
opportunity it provides kids
for growth,” said Matti.
The girls play Cascade
Christian again Monday, Oct
9, on the road and then Rogue
River Saturday, Oct 14, at
Rogue River (0-4).
The boys’ soccer team is
also recovering after a couple
of rough ones, however they
did manage to hold their own
against St. Mary’s, Medford
(8-0). Despite losing 1-4,
Huver Rodriguez scored a 45-
yard goal while the goalie was
slightly out of the box.
The boys are scheduled
to play Cascade Christian
(6-3) Wednesday, Oct 11, and
Rogue River (2-5-1) Saturday,
Oct 14 at home.
Lady Vikings continue tradition of domination
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
Lorna Byrne Middle School’s regular
volleyball season is more than halfway
completed with both the seventh and eighth
grade teams doing exceedingly well.
Angela Alexander, head coach for both
the seventh and eighth grade teams, reported
that the seventh grade team, as of last week,
was undefeated while the eighth grade
team had only lost once. “It’s an awesome
season,” Alexander said, taken aback by the
two team’s advanced skill level. The eighth-
graders lost to McLaughlin but will have
a chance to face them again Oct. 23 at the
season’s second to last game.
“We’ve got power servers; that’s how
we’re winning our games,” said Alexander.
In particular, she named two girls with
particularly good serving skills and said that
they’ve been an essential part of the team’s
success: Destiny Lennon, seventh grade,
and Aidien Peters, eighth grade. “If she gets
up there first,” Alexander said of Peters with
a chuckle, “the other team better look out.”
Although this is Alexander’s first year
coaching a sport, she played volleyball all
through her school years back in Michigan
where she lived for about 20 years. Assistant
coach Megan Toney, whom Alexander says
has been invaluable so far this season, is
also a newcomer to the world of coaching.
However, she played volleyball at IVHS,
where she graduated from a few years
ago. “She’s kind of the hard type. I’m
more of the loving type. We mesh well
together; we’re like the good cop, bad cop,”
Alexander said.
Cougars work to cooperate as a team
Jason McMillen
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley High
School’s (IVHS) girls’ volleyball
team claimed victory over Lakeview
Oct. 3, bringing their overall record
up to six wins with nine losses.
IVHS won the game’s first match
25-23; won the second 26-24, lost
the third 24-26; and won both the
fourth and fifth at 25-18 and 18-16
respectively. The team was down
a couple of players so the rotation
was a little shorter than optimal.
Jesse Tree, head coach,
reported that DeDe Ellis scored the
most points with seven kills while
Lily Bell landed in second place
with four. Tree also mentioned that
Taylor Hammers and Kai Tree both
played a great game, particularly
because of their consistent and
excellent serves. The team is
comprised of seven seniors, two
juniors and two sophomores.
The biggest struggle Tree’s
faced so far this season was getting
the girls, most of whom are quite
experienced, to cooperate as a
team and to believe in their own
capabilities. However, the match
against Lakeview seemed to change
everything with Tree reporting that
the team finally started working
together and communicating. Now
united, Tree believes the team has
a real shot at making it to state,
should they continue to finish
their schedule with a couple more
victories.
“They haven’t been able to
sustain a high level of play; last
night they were able to do that,”
Tree concluded, celebrating the
team’s land mark improvement.
A lifelong resident of the
Illinois Valley and IVHS graduate,
Tree has been coaching a long list
of sports around the area for about
20 years. Although Tree has been
IVHS’s JV volleyball coach for
the past two years, this is his first
season as head coach.
Cougar season was open in Raiders rout of IVHS
Michelle Binker
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley Cougars
suffered a disappointing defeat in
Merrill Friday, Oct. 6. The Lost River
Raiders handing the Cougs a stinging
61-19 loss.
From the Cougars’ first
possession to the last, penalties and
turnovers bled Illinois Valley of
earned yardage and points, leaving
the Raiders in the lead throughout the
game. Lost River ran an effective T
formation offense that ate time and
yards.
“We got tired,” head coach
Bruce Reece observed. “When they
are used to playing like that, and
you’re not, it beats the crap out of
you.”
The final three games of the
season will be conference match ups,
and the Cougars will have to work to
maintain any hope of a chance at post
season play.
“[Our kids] still run hard, they
still play hard. All that is still there,
so we’ve turned a corner in some
respects, but we’re not where we need
to be by any means,” Reece said. “We
have two kids who just [joined the
team] and won’t be eligible until next
week. It’s difficult enough to get your
starters ready to go, let alone trying to
coach up these other guys starting out
with a blank slate.”
The Cougars celebrate
homecoming Friday night, Oct. 13.
I.V. will host the St. Mary’s Crusaders
in Cave Junction - kickoff is a 7 p.m.
(Photo by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
In spite of
intense pass
coverage,
Rayes Du-
gas pulled
in this pass
to earn a
Cougar
first down.
The play
was ne-
gated by a
penalty.
NEW PHOTO
The
KARAOKE
w/ Steve - OH
G SPOT G U P P Y
This Saturday (10/14) is
Hump Day Karaoke
w/ Jammer & Birdy
8-midnight
Open Mic w/
Thurdays @ 7
F r i d a y, O c t . 1 3
@ 5:30
Broadway Phil & The Shouters
SUDNAY 10/15 1-5 PM
pre-sold tickets for Rotary
Every Wednesday
B
BRUNCH & THE BLUES
Oktoberfest
from
Open MIC Night
6 - 8 p.m.
Taylor’s
Country Store
J Barley
Fridays @ 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 @ 9 p.m
Art’s Red
Garter
Saturday Pool Tourney @ 8
New DJ/Karaoke -
Sunday night is
Football & Hotdogs
Mon & Thurs night H omemade
DJ LAY’D BEATZ
Meals & Football games
Sportsman
Tavern
Karaoke -Wed & Sun nights
Frankie
Hernandez
Band
DJ - Fri & Sat nights
Friday, Oct. 13
9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Miss Ashley is now
cooking Thurs - Mon...
@
Check out the new
dinner specials
McGrew’s!