ONE LAST TIME: Cove senior Mariah Murchison played in her final volleyball game against Crane Saturday. Observer/PAUL HARDER

COVE – The Leopards volleyball team was a victim of an unlucky draw Saturday.

Matched against the Mustangs of Crane in the state playoffs, Cove fell in three games.

“We played pretty well,” Leopards head coach Candy McGilvray said. “Crane just played an excellent match.”

No matter what the Leopards did Crane was there to pick it up when it came over the net.

The Mustangs reached 20 points first in Game 1, leading 20-18, and closed out the game with a kill by Natalie Bentz for a 25-20 win.

Cove looked rattled in Game 2. Crane built a 21-14 lead, but the Leopards never gave up.

They rallied to within one point, 24-23, before a serving error ended the game.

“You have to give Cove a lot of credit,” Mustangs head coach Sherri Hussey said. “I’ve never seen a team rally quite like that before.

“I’m just happy our girls were able to hold it together.”

Crane jumped out 17-7 in the final game. This time Cove didn’t mount the miraculous rally.

The Mustangs Brooke Nyman was still in disbelief after the match.

“This is just amazing,” Nyman said. “It’s never easy to travel in the playoffs. You don’t know what to expect.

“We’ve played well this season, but our defense was great tonight. I can’t think of a game we played better in. It just came at the right time.”

Panthers clean up against Adrian

ADRIAN – Imbler felt at home in Adrian Saturday.

The Panthers used that feeling to advance to Forest Grove with a three-game sweep against Adrian (25-18, 25-18, 25-16).

“We had a great group of people that traveled to the game,” Imbler head coach Jennifer Teeter said. “They got it so loud in the gym the girls had trouble hearing.”

The Panthers’ road to the state tournament took an extra game this season, but it wasn’t a drawback.

“I think with this group of girls it helped out to have a game during the week,” Teeter said. “It was nice to break up that week of practice. They would much rather play a match than have to practice.”

Demetria Thompson finished with six kills and seven blocks.

Sarah Bowers lead the team with seven kills.

Reva West and Stephanie Anthony helped keep the team energized during the match.

“They provided some big momentum boosts, Teeter said. “It gets the girls fired up when they see thier teammates doing something spectacular.

Imbler will open the state tournament at 10 a.m. Friday against Days Creek. The tournament is being played at Pacific University.

Huskies end 24-year drought

YONCALLA – The last time the Elgin volleyball team advanced to the state playoffs Twila Ivins was a player. This time, 24 years later, she’s the head coach.

It took five games for the Huskies to sneak by Yoncalla (25-14, 10-25, 25-12, 19-25, 16-14), and punch their ticket to Forest Grove.

“The girls just did an amazing job,” Ivins said. “(Yoncalla) wasn’t an easy team to beat.”

Elgin got the big lift Friday when doctors cleared four-year setter Ashley Burgess to play.

Serving played a key role during the win.

Chantelle Malone and Brandi Campbell teamed up to serve 13 of the teams 25 points in Game 1. The Huskies failed to finish a rotation by the time the game ended.

After dropping the second game, Ivins received a surprise in Game 3.

“We’ve struggled all year long to win the third game of the match,” Ivins said. “I did see a little bit of panic set in after the second game, but it didn’t last.”

Campbell’s serving help create the push needed to win the third game.

With Elgin leading 11-8, the senior served 12 straight points.

In the deciding game, the Huskies jumped out to a 12-5 lead, with Susan Jones serving six of the points.

The Eagles evened the score with seven-straight points, 12-12.

Still tied 15-15, the Huskies scored the next two points to close out the game.

Freshman Shelby Smith stepped in to the setting role to allow Tara Ludwig to devote all her energy to the front row.

“Shelby has done a great job handling the pressure,” Ivins said.

“We’ve been working on that rotation the last couple of weeks.

“The girls did a great job of finishing the match. All of them played with a lot of heart. They definitely believe in themselves now.”

Ludwig led the team with 11 kills and four blocks.

Campbell finished with nine kills and four blocks.

However, Ivins wasn’t just impressed with her team.

“The hospitality from Yoncalla was pretty amazing. There were signs for the girls when we came into town. Our girls each got a yellow flower before the game. It was a great experience.”

Elgin will travel to Forest Grove for the eight-team state tournament Thursday. Play will begin at 1:15 p.m. Friday. The Huskies open against Salem Academy at 3:15 p.m.