By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
ADAIR VILLAGE, Ore.– The Dayton Volleyball team knew this tournament was going to be a good tune-up as they entered the home stretch of the regular season.
They battled through Pool Play, earning the first seed for the Gold Bracket and opened Bracket Play with a 25-17, 25-17 sweep of the 2A Defending Champions in Crosshill Christian to reach the Tournament Semi-Finals.
It’s a beneficial day as the Pirates got to go up against some tough competition from 2A and 3A on Saturday at Santiam Christian.
“It’s really beneficial. I think (Santiam Christian Head Coach) Jill (Riddle) said that there are seven of the Top 10 3A teams here. It’s kind of like a State Preview…we got to get back into that mentality where we can’t be complacent. We can’t think that other team’s aren’t wanting to come and get us, because they are,” said Dayton’s Head Coach Samatha Alexander. “This is a really good test for our mental fortitude and to play some really intense great teams that challenge us a little bit.”
The Eagles of Crosshill defeated Dayton last fall in the Santiam Christian Tournament Championship Bracket Semi-Finals, so they were motivated to get back at Crosshill on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the bracket. Their strong hitting battled with the Eagles’ scrappiness, but Dayton adjusted and were able to get back to the tournament semi’s once more. All the while, getting some redemption after how last year’s tournament ended for the squad.
“We lost to Crosshill here last year, so to beat Crosshill in that first bracket game, that was huge for us. It just gave us a little boost of confidence and, ‘ok, let’s go out and the remaining teams are really strong, it’s going to be fun,” said Alexander of Crosshill.
Dayton played Burns in the Semi’s on Saturday, a rematch from their Sisters Tournament match-up that saw the Pirates defeat the Highlanders in straight sets. But, Burns would get the better of the two teams in the round with the Highlanders taking the match in two sets to advance to the Championship Round to even the regular season series between the two squads.
Dayton will re-enter West Valley League play on Tuesday when they travel to Willamina before heading to Amity on Thursday.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
