The volleyball teams from Bend, Summit, Sisters, Trinity Lutheran, and Central Christian have all secured their places in upcoming state tournaments following strong performances over the weekend. The matches, held on November 2, 2025, showcased the determination and skill of these teams as they advanced through the playoffs.
Historic Farewell for Bend High Gym
In a poignant conclusion for the nearly 70-year-old Bend High gym, the third-seeded Lava Bears triumphed over No. 14 Central with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-18, 25-19). The match marked the final event in the gym before its scheduled demolition next year. Following her team’s achievement, Bend coach Kristin Cooper expressed mixed emotions, reflecting on her long history with the venue. “It is bittersweet,” she noted. “I love this gym and I’m very sad to see it go… But I’m looking forward to making more [memories] in the new one.”
The Lava Bears, who have now reached the state tournament for five consecutive years, will face No. 6 West Albany at 10:00 on Friday morning in the Class 5A quarterfinals at Forest Grove High. Senior libero Rylee Smith highlighted the team spirit, stating, “Everyone makes sacrifices for this team… Everyone works together. That is what you have to do to go to state five years in a row.”
Summit Storms Back Against Silverton
The Summit volleyball team overcame an early setback to defeat No. 12 Silverton 3-1 in their first home playoff game since 2019. After losing the first set 25-16, the Storm rallied to claim the next three sets (16-25, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21), securing their return to the state tournament after missing out last year.
Junior setter Jessie Doorn described the initial nerves among players, noting that their excitement eventually helped fuel their performance. “We just needed to calm down a little bit,” first-year coach Kevin McColloch added. “Once we found our rhythm, it was easy to keep going.” Summit will compete against No. 4 Crater at 08:00 on Friday in Forest Grove.
Trinity Lutheran’s Redemption
Trinity Lutheran redeemed themselves this year by sweeping No. 15 Kennedy 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23), after a disappointing exit in the previous season’s playoffs. Junior player Natalie Chambers emphasized the team’s determination, stating, “We came in knowing 100 percent that we had this… but we were going to have to work really hard for it.”
The Saints are set to participate in their fourth state tournament, marking their first since moving to the 2A ranks. They will face No. 7 Portland Christian on Friday at 15:00.
Success for Sisters and Central Christian
Sisters also celebrated a successful return to the 3A state tournament after a one-year hiatus, sweeping No. 12 Warrenton in straight sets (25-13, 25-18, 25-20). The fourth-seeded Outlaws will take on No. 5 Dayton at 11:00 on Friday at North Bend High School.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Central Christian showcased a dominant performance against No. 14 Triangle Lake, winning all three sets (25-12, 25-8, 25-13) by significant margins. Central Christian will compete against No. 6 North Lake in the quarterfinals at La Grande High School on Friday at 13:00.
Caldera, Madras, and Culver Bow Out
The weekend was not without disappointment for other local teams. Caldera, seeded 11th, faced elimination after losing to Philomath in four sets (25-14, 20-25, 25-15, 25-12). Madras, making its first playoff appearance in over a decade, fell to No. 5 Philomath in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-21).
Culver, seeded 12th, started strong by winning the first set against No. 5 Heppner but ultimately lost the match in four sets (23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-15).
As the tournament progresses, the advancing teams are poised to continue their quests for state titles, each carrying their unique stories and aspirations into the next phase of competition.
