CLATSKANIE, Clatskanie’s volleyball team will play for a spot in the state tournament at home.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 29: Clatskanie’s opponent and match time are set.
The Tigers (18-3) are the No. 6 seed in the 2A state playoffs and host No. 11 Irrigon at noon Saturday, Oct. 31, in the second round, according to the OSAA bracket. As a top-eight seed, Clatskanie skipped the first round. Irrigon earned the trip by sweeping No. 22 Lost River 25-18, 25-21, 25-14 on Wednesday.
Irrigon (16-7) finished 4-4 in the Blue Mountain Conference in Morrow County, about 250 miles east of Clatskanie, and has beaten some good teams: its wins include a 3-2 victory over Heppner, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, on Oct. 8, according to Irrigon’s OSAA team page. Brenda Burright coaches the Knights.
A win sends Clatskanie to the eight-team state tournament at La Grande High School. Quarterfinals are Friday, Nov. 6, and the championship match is Saturday, Nov. 7. Under the OSAA’s bracket rules, the team with the better playoff ranking is the home team, which is why the Tigers host Saturday.
Win or lose, Saturday is the last home match of the season for the five seniors on the Tigers’ 12-player roster.
Ten League Matches, Ten Wins
Clatskanie went 10-0 in the Northwest League, according to its OSAA team page. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Tigers swept Nestucca 3-0 in a Northwest League playoff match at Clatskanie High School. When the state rankings froze that night, Clatskanie was No. 6 in 2A and No. 5 in the RPI, the OSAA’s strength-of-schedule formula.
All three losses came outside the league: to 3A Westside Christian on Sept. 3, to Myrtle Point at the St. Paul Invitational on Sept. 19, and to 4A Estacada at the Corbett tournament on Oct. 17. That same day at Corbett, Clatskanie beat 3A Catlin Gabel 2-1. Catlin Gabel was 16-1 in its other matches, according to the OSAA’s ranking data.
Myrtle Point is now the No. 3 seed in the same quarter of the bracket. If both teams win Saturday, they meet again in the quarterfinals in La Grande.
Nestucca, the team Clatskanie beat twice in league play and again on Saturday, is also in the bracket as the No. 21 seed. It plays at No. 12 North Douglas on Wednesday.
Amanda Baker coaches the Tigers.
If You Go
- What: 2A state playoffs, second round, Clatskanie vs. Irrigon
- When: Saturday, Oct. 31, noon
- Where: Clatskanie High School. The OSAA bracket notes broadcast coverage.
- Next: Quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6, at La Grande High School