Vikings will meet Vale in first round, tickets must be purchased online

Oct. 24, 2022 — After a successful first season in their new classification and league, the Siuslaw volleyball team has clinched a spot in the OSAA 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament.

The Viks (6-6 in league/12-11 overall) played a tough stretch of games last week that will serve as good preparation for the high level of competition they will see in the state tournament. Though they lost all three, they fought hard during every rally of every set.

First, on Oct. 19, the #1 team in the 3A classification, Sisters, came to town for a league match. The Outlaws showed why they are at the top of the rankings as they swept the Viks 25-13, 25-17, 25-13.

Two days later on Oct. 21, the #2 team in the OSAA’s computer rankings, Pleasant Hill was Siuslaw’s opponent. The Vikings were the home team and took the Billies to five sets (25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-10) but lost 3-2.

Finally, two days after that, the Viks traveled to Pleasant Hill for the Mountain Valley playoffs and a match against Creswell.

A large contingent of fans from both Siuslaw and Creswell traveled to Pleasant Hill for the neutral court match, which created a spirited playoff atmosphere.

The first set was the tightest as the lead went back and forth between the two teams. The Viks prevailed 26-24. The Bulldogs snatched momentum in the second set and never let go. The took the next three sets (25-17, 25-17, 25-10) and the match 3-1.

Siuslaw still has reason to celebrate, even after ending their season on a three-game skid, as later Saturday the bracket was announced for the OSAA 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament and the Viks earned a spot.

The top three teams from the Mountain Valley Conference automatically qualify for the state tournament and those were #1 Sisters, #2 Pleasant Hill and #3 Creswell.

Lucky for Siuslaw, OSAA’s rules state that after all the automatic spots in the tournament are handed out, the next highest remaining team in the OSAA computer rankings will earn an at-large bid to state. That team is the Vikings as they finished #15.

Siuslaw’s opponent in the first round will also be Vikings, but these ones apparently aren’t the sea-faring type as they come from the other side of the state. SHS will face Vale (8-2/11-12), the second-place team in the Eastern Oregon League in the first round of the state tournament.

Siuslaw, by virtue of their higher computer ranking, will be the home team. With the eight-hour trip the eastern Oregon Vikings will have in front of them, that home court advantage could be significant. Match starts at 6 p.m..

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students. Only OSAA Passes are accepted. No League Passes, season passes or ASB Cards will get you in. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.osaa.org/shop/tickets.