Ashland, North Medford, Phoenix also post top-7 finishes in second year as emerging activity in Oregon

St. Mary’s was pushed to the limit last weekend but answered the challenge when it mattered most, scoring a second straight Class 3A/2A/1A boys volleyball state championship to highlight the local effort at the Olympus Sports Center in Hillsboro.

The Crusaders’ final foe was the same, but the growth of the emerging activity in Oregon in one year allowed for a much different ending than a year ago against Portland Adventist Academy for head coach Katie Miller and company.

In the first of two years as an emerging sport in the eyes of the Oregon School Activities Association, St. Mary’s was able to breeze to the state title by winning all six sets in three best-of-three matches — including 25-20, 25-13 over Portland Adventist.

This second time around last Sunday, St. Mary’s needed everything at its disposal to grind out a five-set triumph in the championship finals, 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-27, 15-10.

Kent David, a senior outside hitter, led the charge for the Crusaders (15-4) with 22 kills, 12 digs and 20-for-20 serving with two aces in the finals.

Connor Gibbs, another senior who was key in last year’s title run, supplied 15 kills and 10 digs, while Cole Mayfield had four blocks and four kills and C.J. Seggelink dished out 37 assists to go with five kills.

St. Mary’s had advanced to the championship match earlier in the day with a 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14 win over Western Christian, while Portland Adventist scored a four-set win over Damascus Christian in the other semifinal.

After placing third in the combined 5A/4A division last year, Ashland finished fourth at the 5A level this time around after topping Santiam Christian in straight sets during the fourth-place consolation final, 25-22, 25-11, 25-21.

The Grizzlies (13-4) fell in four sets during the quarterfinal round, then recovered to beat Hood River Valley in five sets with a remarkable comeback during the consolation semifinals, 27-29, 22-25, 25-22, 25-13, 15-11.

Ashland’s Jeff Kubiak was named 5A coach of the year.

At the 6A level, North Medford finished sixth overall after a tough five-set loss to Clackamas in the fourth-place final, 14-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12.

The Black Tornado (11-5) lost in straight sets during the quarterfinal round, then won in four sets over South Salem in the consolation semifinals, 32-30, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21.

North Medford’s Angie Miller joined Kubiak in being named one of the coaches of the year.

Phoenix (4-13) advanced to the 4A tournament and finished seventh after topping Marshfield in straight sets, 25-16, 25-18, 26-24.

The Pirates lost in straight sets to Estacada in the quarterfinals, then fell in four sets to Newport in the consolation semifinals, 31-28, 23-25, 25-14, 27-25.

Phoenix was later selected for the 4A sportsmanship award.

In October, the Oregon School Activities Association will vote on whether to fully sanction the up-and-coming sport or keep it as an unsanctioned activity.

A total of 68 teams and nearly 1,000 players competed across all levels this spring, up from 52 teams and 845 players last year. The tally was 25 teams and 353 players in the spring of 2023, when the Oregon High School Boys Volleyball Association kicked into high gear and led to the recognition by the OSAA as an emerging activity.

The threshold for the OSAA to consider sanctioning a sport is 50 participating schools, but that doesn’t mean such figures are a guarantee.

There currently is debate over whether boys volleyball should shadow girls volleyball in the fall or continue to play in the spring, which more suits the Pacific Northwest model. There are also questions on funding, resource allocations, staff workload and the talent-sharing of athletes with another option on the table.

Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035