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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, OcTObER 31, 2019
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Gary Henley | Sports Reporter
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VOLLEYBALL
Astoria advances to state with win over Siuslaw
By GARY HENLEY
The Astorian
The Siuslaw volleyball team
found out what happens when you
have to play a highly-ranked Cow-
apa League team in the play-in
round.
The Vikings did not stand much
of a chance Tuesday night at the
Brick House, where Astoria elim-
inated Siuslaw in quick fashion,
25-21, 25-16, 25-19.
Third-place finishers in their
own league but ranked fifth in the
state, the Lady Fishermen showed
that they’re ready to make a big
run in the upcoming state tourna-
ment, Nov. 8-9 at Forest Grove
High School.
But first, Astoria will host a first
round state playoff contest Sat-
urday, time and opponent to be
announced.
The Vikings had their moments
in Tuesday’s match (a 5-1 lead in
Game 1), but Astoria was never
seriously threatened after the first
set.
Siuslaw never led in Game 2 or
3, managing only a 1-1 tie in the
second set, and 3-3 in the third.
Other than that, the Fishermen
held the lead for the remainder of
the match, which took just an hour
and 10 minutes to complete.
And whenever the Vikings did
reel off more than a few points in
a row, Astoria went to their ral-
ly-stopper, junior Kelsey Fausett.
Tied 13-13 in Game 1, Fausett
lined a kill down the center of the
court to spark a Fishermen rally,
helping Astoria outscore Siuslaw
8-1 to take a commanding lead.
Halle Helmersen and Skylar
Sturtz added ace serves during the
big run, and Julia Norris finished
the deal, setting Taja Tuimato for
a kill, then delivering an off-speed
kill of her own at game point.
Astoria built a 10-2 advantage
in the second set, but Siuslaw’s
6-foot senior outside hitter, Mia
Collins, led a rally that helped the
Vikings close to within 11-9.
But Astoria turned on the Fau-
sett again, as she posted kills off
sets from Norris and Tuiamato,
which was followed by a pair of
spikes from Helmersen.
Another Fausett kill made it
21-12, and Norris set Fausett twice
down the stretch for game-ending
hits.
The Vikings were within 11-10
in the third set, but Fausett showed
that she could be effective from the
serve line as well.
Fausett took over and served
up nine straight points for a 20-10
lead, with three aces during the
run.
The Vikings made one last gasp
and closed to within 21-17, but a
kill by Kajsa Jackson and Tuima-
to’s directional tap at match point
capped Astoria’s win.
Fausett led Astoria with eight
kills, followed by Helmersen with
seven and Jackson with five kills to
go with three blocks.
The early start was part of Asto-
ria’s slow start, said coach Jessie
Todd.
“We tried to stay in a regular
routine, but the early start, plus
nerves were a part of it,” she said.
“In the post-season matches, you’re
always fighting a few nerves.
“But we played fairly smart
tonight,” Todd said. “We moved
the ball well, and did OK against
(Collins). She’s a good player, and
she’s going to get her kills.”
In other 4A play-in match
action, Philomath finished Sea-
side’s season with a three-game
sweep over the Gulls, 25-20,
25-22, 25-17, at Philomath.
BOYS SOCCER
Seaside blanks Banks
in league finale
Seaside tuned up for the
post-season with an easy 5-0
win Tuesday at Banks in a Cow-
apa League boys soccer season
finale.
The Gulls finish the sea-
son with a 6-1-1 league record,
10-3-1 overall. The Braves,
ranked 32nd out of 33 teams at
the 4A level, dropped to 1-11
overall.
Seaside advances to the state
playoffs for the fourth straight
season.
Stephen Snyder scored Sea-
side’s first goal and freshman
Ryan Varozza scored the second
on a header off an assist from
Westin Carter.
Carter made it 3-0, and
Dodger Holmstedt was Seaside’s
fourth goal-scorer of the first half.
The Gulls played several
junior varsity players in the sec-
ond half, with Carter adding his
second goal for the final score.
In girls soccer action at Broad-
way Field, Banks defeated Sea-
side, 1-0.
VOLLEYBALL
Astoria High School
Willamina defeats
Warrenton for
No. 1 seed
The third time was the charm
for the Willamina volleyball
team.
Following a pair of five-set
wins for Warrenton during the
regular season, the Bulldogs
finally found a winning combi-
nation against the Warriors, as
they defeated Warrenton in four
sets Tuesday night to earn the
No. 1 seed to the state playoffs
out of the Coastal Range League.
Willamina’s 25-15, 25-19,
19-25, 25-17 win gives the
league’s top seed to the Bulldogs,
while Warrenton — the regular
season league champion — will
still compete in the upcoming
state playoffs.
The Warriors will play on the
road at 5 p.m. Saturday at No.
1-ranked Santiam Christian. Wil-
lamina jumped Warrenton in
the state rankings, rising to 17th
while Warrenton dropped to No.
21.
— The Astorian
A wide angle view from overhead at Astoria High School’s new track.
Grand opening Saturday
for Astoria’s new track
The Astorian
A
SCOREBOARD
PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Football — Portland Christian at Knappa,
7 p.m.; Nestucca at Warrenton, 7 p.m.; Willapa
Valley at Ilwaco, 7 p.m.; Taholah at Naselle,
7 p.m.
Astoria High School
The newly resurfaced track at Astoria High School complete with lane numbers.
storia School District is
inviting all community
members to a grand open-
ing at 11 a.m. Saturday for Asto-
ria High School’s new track.
A junior track meet for chil-
dren ages 4-12 will be held from
11:30 to 1 p.m. with a barbeque
from 11:30 to 1 p.m. A United
Way Walk-a-thon is happening
from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Astoria’s track was recently
resurfaced thanks to support
from a November 2018 bond.
There will be a ceremonial rib-
bon cutting at the grand opening.
The barbeque will be hosted
by members of the Astoria High
School track team.
The walk-a-thon, part of a
senior class project, was orga-
nized by Astoria seniors Leo Mat-
thews and Michael Postlewait, in
partnership with the United Way
of Clatsop County.
Oregon women’s basketball ranked 1st in AP poll
By DOUG FEINBERG
Associated Press
NEW YORK —
When he took over in
2014, Kelly Graves set
out to establish Oregon
as one of the elite teams
in women’s college
basketball.
Fresh off their first Final Four
appearance, the Ducks are ranked
No. 1 in The Associated Press poll
for the first time in school history.
Oregon, led by sensa-
tional guard Sabrina
Ionescu, received 25 of
the 28 first-place votes
from the national media
panel to grab the top spot
in the preseason rankings
released Wednesday.
“I think it validates our vision
that we had going in here,” Graves
told the Associated Press. “It vali-
dates the hard work from my staff
that’s been with me the whole jour-
ney. On this stage we had a better
opportunity to be in position we
now are.”
No. 2 Baylor, the defending
national champion, received the
other three first-place votes. Stan-
ford, Maryland and UConn round
out the top five; the Huskies have
been ranked in the top five for 239
consecutive weeks, since January
2007.
“That’s nuts,” Graves said of
UConn’s streak. “I think I’d be in
my mid 70s by the time we reached
that.”
No. 6 Texas A&M has its best
ranking since the Aggies were fifth
on Dec. 29, 2014. Oregon State,
South Carolina, Louisville and
Mississippi State complete the top
10.
Graves knows no one tends to
remember who was ranked first in
October. He also feels his team,
which was ranked third in the pre-
season last year, is mature enough
to handle the pressures of being No.
1.
“I think it’s really neat and we’re
adult enough and smart enough to
handle this,” he said. “We’ve kept
our heads down and continued to
work. Stay humbled and hungry.”