2B | TEAM NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL from B1 as their season has officially come to an end. The Eagles got off to a blistering start with every- thing going their way in the first set early as they took a quick 14-2 lead over Cre- swell. Elsa McDermott and Natalie Potter lead the way for Catlin Gabel with their big hits and well-placed serves as they overwhelmed Creswell in the first set to win 25-10. The second set was much closer as Creswell started to play more aggressively. Se- nior Captain Emme Whit- son made three big hits late in the set as Creswell was clinging to a two-point lead looking to closeout Catlin Gabel at 22-20. The Eagles called a timeout and Mc- Dermott scored two points back-to-back as Catlin Ga- bel tied the game back at 22. Catlin Gabel’s momen- tum continued as a Cre- swell hit went out and Mc- Dermott served another ace giving The Eagles a two- point lead 24-22. But Creswell didn’t panic and responded with a run of their own. Whitson scored back-to-back hits, Catlin Gabel hit the ball into the net giving Creswell back the lead 25-24. Kendyl Whitson’s serving CHAMPS from B1 a lot of people who trav- eled to that game who have vested interest in our team all year. And so it was real- ly awesome to have them come out there with us, es- pecially our student section who stands up and screams the whole time. And for them to be out there with us. It was pretty special.” North Douglas would go on two different 5-0 runs in the first set with the second giving the Warriors a 16- 14 lead. After St. Paul was able to tie the set back up at 18-18 North Douglas did not quiver and a timely ace from Asia Ward gave back a three-point lead for the Warriors forcing St. Paul to take a timeout with a North Douglas 21-18 lead. “Our message when we get to 20 points is to keep being aggressive,” said Reed. “And to be the ones that are putting the ball in play and playing smart when it gets to that point so that we can finish.” St. Paul ripped off three points in a row to tie the game back at 22 follow- ing their timeout. But the Buckaroos mistakes helped North Douglas grab the lead again after two St. Paul balls went out and the run had helped propel the Bulldogs back in front and her last serve of the set was an ace that split the Cat- lin Gabel defense and gave Creswell a 26-24 set win. Set three was also close until Lizabelle Osborn and Kendyl Whitson sparked a 7-0 Creswell run to grab the lead for the Bulldogs at 18-15. Catlin Gabel scored twice off Creswell’s mis- takes to make the score 22- 19 still in favor of Creswell. But Catlin Gabel’s late at- tempt to rally wasn’t enough as Emme Whitson and Os- born combined for the last three Creswell points to close out the third set for the Bulldogs 25-20. As Creswell held a 2-1 set lead nearing a victory, Catlin Gabel did not plan on going down easily in the fourth set. McDermott led the comeback for The Ea- gles as her two aces broke a 6-6 tie in giving Catlin Gabel a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Creswell failed to string consecutive points together and Catlin Gabel managed to take advantage of The Bulldogs offensive woes. McDermott again served two aces in a row giving Catlin Gabel a 24-13 lead. And after a hit in by Ken- dyl Whitson Catlin Gabel’s Bianca Haldorsen respond- ed with a hit of her own to close out the fourth set for Warriors had a 24-22 lead. Brooke McHaffie’s block at the net secured a set win for North Douglas 25-22. St. Paul had a response in the second set being led by Stella Koch. North Douglas would make a run to cut the lead to only two with plays from Cydni Dill, Brooklyn Williams, and Samantha MacDowell making the lead only 14-12 for St. Paul. But two mistakes against North Douglas would add to a 5-0 answer from St. Paul making the lead 19- 13. Meredith Coleman would later hit the ball off a North Douglas block for a St. Paul point followed by an ace that gave the Buck- aroos a 24-18 lead. North Douglas on the next play hit the ball into the net giv- ing set two to St. Paul. “We knew it was going to be a battle and they (St. Paul) wanted it just as bad as us and they weren’t just gonna lay down and let us have it,” said Reed. “We did not come out and play very well in that second set and we kind of beat ourselves I felt like.” North Douglas com- pletely bulldozed St. Paul in the third set. After a Koch block on Halli Vaughn at the net, The Warriors would seemingly be un- touchable in their 7-0 run The Eagles 25-14. With having been in the same position less than 24 hours prior against Suther- lin, Creswell looked like they had an advantage. Sophomore Kyla Ellis made a big block at the net spur- ring a great reaction from the Creswell crowd. Catlin Gabel responded ripping off a 5-0 run to snatch the lead back from Creswell at 8-6 forcing The Bulldogs to take a timeout. Though the Bulldogs snapped the long run by Catlin Gabel, The Eagles were still in control, and be- ing led by four after a block and McDermott hit made the score 11-7. Creswell called another timeout trying to not let the game slip away, Emme Whitson and Lauren Bailey combined for back-to-back points making the lead only three for Catlin Gabel 12-9. Haldorsen hit the ball in for Catlin Gabel who was on the verge of closing out the game leading 14-11. Emme Whitson knew this was her last game for Creswell and like her team- mates, gave everything she had scoring two more points for the Bulldogs as the lead was now one at 14- 13. But on the ensuing play, Potter slammed the door closed on Creswell’s come- back as her hit was the final point Catlin Gabel needed with plays from Vaughn, Williams, and MacDowell made the lead 17-6. St. Paul scored one more time making it 17-7 but continued to have no an- swer for the point barrage North Douglas unleashed on them. “I really felt like we could do nothing wrong,” said Reed. “Every hit like was hitting the corner. Every serve was right in a place where they struggled to pass and literally every time we touched the ball was like it hit the ground on their side. It was crazy.” Vaughn scored five aces in the last six points for North Douglas as they cruised to a 25-7 third set win. North Douglas knew they were on the verge of winning after coming off their most dominant set win all season. The positive momentum continued as Lailah Ward got involved serving two aces in a row making the score 12-3 in favor of North Douglas in the fourth set. Koch tried to spark a comeback for St. Paul af- View it on your computer, tablet and smartphone, with unlimited access, no need to download an app. Not taking advantage? Call or email us today! S entinel C ottage G rove www.cgsentinel.com 541-942-3325 You trusted local news, sports and special publications since 1889. Stat leaders Emme Whitson (1st team all-tourna- ment) 17 kills, 14 digs, 3 aces Kimmy Kelsey 29 assists, 6 digs, 1 ace ter scoring a point the Buckaroos would cut into the North Douglas lead making the score 21-16 for North Douglas forcing Coach Reed to use a tim- eout. “I just told them to relax and then it wasn’t over,” said Reed during the time- out. “We needed to get the ball in play. I felt like our serving was really good. But every time we got the ball in play, I felt like it was another chance for them to make the mistake. And so, I just said give it everything you can. Everything you got leave it on the court, no regrets.” Koch would score one more point for St. Paul as her hit went off the North LIONS from B1 back-to-back points making The Valiants lead by only five at 21-16. But two Cot- tage Grove mistakes gave Valley Catholic a golden opportunity to close out the set leading 24-18. Fran Eisenhardt’s hit would go past the Lion defense for the point giv- ing Valley Catholic the set win 25-18. The third set continued to be close un- til Valley Catholic’s Kylee King got back to serve for the Valiants. She served four total aces in her run growing the Valley Catholic lead to 19-10. Gracie Arnold and Herbert scored back- to-back points late in the set, but wouldn’t be enough as Valley Catholic was in total control at that point. Addie Emerson helped close out the set with a big hit that went down the right line and another hit that would be called in ending the set 25-16 for Valley Catho- lic. The Valiant student section chanted “one more set” as their team was on the cusp of advancing to the semi-finals in Corvallis. Cottage Grove tried to make sure the game would go one more set as The Lions took a 13-11 lead making the Valiants call a timeout. Cottage Grove held a lead until Valley Catholic came storming back to tie the game at 20. The Valiants would go on a 6-1 run only needing one more point to advance into the next round. Coach Ladd called her last timeout trying to re-focus her group one more time while the Valley Catholic student section chanted “one more point”. Emerson scored the last point Valley Catholic needed as they knocked out the Lions and prevailed 25-21 over Cottage Grove. Douglas block making the score 24-17 with North Douglas only needing one more point for the win. On the ensuing play, St. Paul’s hit would go out of bounds securing a win for North Douglas and a euphoric moment for the team and the fans who made the road trip over from Drain. “I’m very, very proud,” said Reed. “I’m so proud of those girls and told them that they’ve done some- thing that no one else has ever done at North Doug- las. “The 12 of them have something they can say that no other girls in the entire program’s history can ever say that they won a state title.” Stat leaders Asia Ward (Voted player of the game) 9 kills, 5 aces, 11 digs Halli Vaughn 9 kills, 6 aces, 2 blocks Brooklyn Williams (1st team all-tournament) 8 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 8 digs Brooke McHaffie 7 kills, 5 blocks Samantha MacDowell 4 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks, 13 digs, 29 assists Cydni Dill 6 kills, 12 digs Lailah Ward (1st team all-tournament) 11 digs, 2 aces This year’s football contest is online, so log on to register for your chance to complete and win! Big Fan Football Contest https://cottagegrovesentinel. upickem.net/?contestid=74557 3#registration/login Did You Know? With your subscription you receive access to the mobile friendly Cottage Grove Sentinel e-Edition. • Get Local & Breaking News, Sports and Classi�ieds • View our News Archives • Read Special Publications to win the game. “I feel like it’s really special for us because we’re a pretty young team,” said Creswell Senior Emme Whitson af- ter the Catlin Gabel game. “I just feel very proud of my team for making at least to state. That was our goal this whole season was make it to Corvallis. And the fact that we did that is we got a tro- phy and that’s all we wanted to do.” Though the result wasn’t what the Bulldogs were hoping for, Coach Baltrus- ch still praised her team for making it to that point. “I’m really proud of them that they even made it this far,” said Baltrsuch. “They deserved to be here. They were as good as any of the other teams that we’re here.” Baltrusch added, “I’m also excited that I have so many young kids coming back next year. We’ll be filling one important starter spot but we’ll be back. 1. Former NFL kick return special- ist Mel Gray was named to four Pro Bowls in the early 1990s playing for what team? 2. U.S. Olympian Ryan Crouser won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games compet- ing in what track and field event? 3. In the 1983 NBA playoffs, what member of the Atlanta Hawks bit Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics in the finger during an on-court fight? 4. By what nickname is former Dal- las Cowboys fullback and longtime TV analyst Daryl Johnston known? 5. What U.S. women’s soccer star scored three goals vs. Japan in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final match? 6. The Platypus Trophy is an award presented in the college football rival- ry between which two teams? 7. What South Carolina racetrack is known as “The Lady in Black”? Answers 1. The Detroit Lions. 2. The shot put. 3. Tree Rollins. 4. Moose. 5. Carli Lloyd. 6. The Oregon Ducks and the Ore- gon State Beavers. 7. Darlington Raceway. Register before September 9th to play! Check online for contest rules and details! A Brad’s Buy is a Better Buy, with acres of vehicles to choose from! HORNERS INC. 2775 Row River Road 541 942-4415 www.bradschevy.com FOREST & GARDEN EQUIPMENT 79132 Hwy. 99 North Cottage Grove ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ (541) 942-2551 541- 942-5781 S entinel C ottage G rove 1498 E. Main St., STE 104 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 • 541-942-3325 • cgsentinel.com