By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MILL CITY, Ore.– Santiam Volleyball team got their revenge on Delphian on Monday evening at Santiam High School. Their only defeat in the Tri-River Conference to this point was to the Dragons back on September 24 out in Sheridan, and they did what they could do to make things better.
They came out with energy, they communicated as they jumped out to a 12-5 lead on Delphian in the opening set before the Dragons came back.
Delphian showed why they were 10-0 in TRC play and ranked fourth in 2A as they tied the game up at 14 and eventually built a 19-15 lead on the Wolverines.
But Santiam. As young and inexperienced as they were entering this season, they showed why they were a Top 10 team in the classification and were a game behind the Dragons in the Tri-River Conference standings at 9-1.
They clawed, scratched, and fought to get back in the set, eventually taking it 25-23. Setting the tone for the squad for the remainder of their 25-23, 25-16, 25-21 sweep of Delphian on Monday.
“It’s been awesome to watch them grow because I saw them as JV players, and I knew that they were coming up. They had really good, sound fundamentals and this group has been playing together for a while and to see them now at the Varsity level, it’s all coming together,” said Santiam Head Coach Alicia Boyd. “They’re hungry for this, and it’s great to see.”
The Wolverines took that ending surge into the second set as they didn’t have a lull against the Dragons, then in that as they did in the first.
Even when Delphian settled back into their groove that they had during their 14-3 first set rally, the one that turned the 12-5 into a 19-15 lead in favor of the Dragons, Santiam held strong in the final set to force a two-way tie for first in the conference.
“Our energy was so good compared to the last time. Last time we were down, but this time we had a bunch of energy and confidence, and we talked really well,” said the Wolverine’s Kaydence Vandagriff, who had 11 kills in the victory.
And though they saw their undefeated league season come to a close on Monday, Delphian knows too that they have plenty of opportunity and time to move by this game and turn it into a positive.
“It was a good eye opener for my girls to be able to have to play really hard and against a good team. We’ll just have to come back and have to play our best the rest of league,” said Delphian Head Coach Denise Dickey. “Santiam just played a really solid game, and things weren’t falling our way. We’ll see what we can do and come back.”
The Dragons will host Western Christian on Wednesday before hosting Colton to close out the week. Santiam will travel to Colton on Wednesday before hosting Regis on Thursday.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
