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With
one match to go,
Newberg closes in
on Pac-9 championship |
The NHS volleyball team drops Woodburn and
Forest Grove to improve to 12-3 |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
With the Newberg High School volleyball team on a three-match win streak,
the Tigers can feel the Pac-9 Conference championship.
Newberg beat Woodburn Tuesday on the road, 18-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-18, and
then notched a 25-22, 25-18, 15-25, 25-20 win over Forest Grove in Newberg’s Pac-9
home finale.
On Thursday, the Tigers fell behind 9-3 in the first game. Newberg struggled
and eventually tied it at 14-14 before a kill by junior Rachel Yurkovich gave the Tigers
their first lead of the game. Both teams traded rallies Newberg pulled out the win.
In the second game, the Tigers fell behind early again, this time at 8-4.
After three-straight Newberg points, Forest Grove called a timeout. The teams kept it
close until an ace by senior Allison Braun gave the Tigers a little breathing room, up
18-15. The Tigers cruised from there, receiving an ace by Yurkovich, and a pair of kills
by senior Maria Acosta.
In the third game, Newberg fell behind again early and couldn’t come
back. Down 9-3, the Tigers rallied and with kills by Acosta and Braun, the Tigers found
themselves down 17-15. But the Vikings stunned the Tigers and scored the final eight
points to claim the win.
Newberg didn’t fall behind in the fourth game. The Tigers shot out to an
early 7-1 advantage, which included an ace by senior Julie Rosario. Forest Grove pulled
within 15-13 before a kill by Braun down the line gave NHS a 19-13 lead.
If Newberg is to make a run in the playoffs, slow starts are something
they’ll have to avoid.
“I don’t know how to really work on it but we talk about it a lot
but it takes them awhile to get in their rhythm and get going but once they actually get
in their rhythm, their hard to stop,” NHS coach Ronni Cook said. “Probably the
three losses we’ve had this season have been caused from that slow start and not
being able to get out of it. Once in awhile, we’ve managed to dig ourselves out and
it’s worked so far.”
The win improved Newberg to 12-3 with a single match left on the season. On
Monday, the Tigers will travel to Tigard, a team that sits at 1-14. If Newberg wins,
they’ll at least hold a share of the Pac-9 Conference championship.
Cook said Thursday’s triumph over Forest Grove was key because it kept
the Tigers on pace for the league title.
“This might be the biggest one so far just because the situation
we’re in right now,” she said.
The lone team that stands in the way of Newberg’s claim to the title is
its arch rival, McMinnville. The Grizzlies and Tigers split their two matches this season
and both have identical 12-3 records. But with a match left for each squad, Newberg is at
an advantage. On Monday, the Tigers will travel to Tigard while the Grizzlies will face
Canby, a team with an 11-4 record.
“The one we’re kind of looking for right now is McMinnville but we
just have to focus on Monday night and not deal with what other teams are doing,”
Cook said.
Playing Tigard in the last game of the season could also hurt Newberg.
Earlier in the season, Cook said the Tigers will sometimes play down to the level of its
opponent. That was apparent both times Newberg played Woodburn (1-14). Although the Tigers
scored the victories over the Bulldogs, it wasn’t in convincing fashion.
“Like with Woodburn the other night, we kind of took that one for
granted and got beat in the first game,” Cook said. “So it will be the same
situation almost (with Tigard). Hopefully we can talk about what the results are going to
be if we win at Tigard and hopefully that will give them some motivation.” |
|
From Oct. 18,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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