Tis the weekend for volleyball

I found the title appropriate since some stores are already putting up Christmas displays.

But seriously, if volleyball is your cup of tea then get ready for a wild weekend.

Actually, how about tonight.

It all kicks off in La Grande and Elgin.

The Tigers host Baker at 7 p.m.

All that’s on the line is hosting a playoff game or traveling 400 miles in the first round.

Union travels to Elgin for a crucial Blue Mountain Conference match beginning at 5 p.m.

Both teams enter with 7-3 conference marks.

The Bobcats are ranked No. 8 in the Coach’s Poll.

Elgin enters the game receiving votes.

Don’t let that fool you. It’s going to be a battle.

Don’t be surprised to see the Huskies defend their home court either.

The only problem is Elgin doesn’t yet believe it’s a great team — they are.

All you need to do is look at two previous Huskies’ matches. The depth of the Blue Mountain Conference jumps out.

Elgin took No. 1 Weston-McEwen to five games, and No. 5 Heppner to five games. In both matches the Huskies won the first two games.

Then that look — the what are we doing look — set in.

Now don’t get me wrong: an Elgin win isn’t a given.

Union is beginning to find its rhythm, too.

The Bobcats placed fourth at the state tournament last season, and are finally beginning to believe they are a good team again.

Now if one Union versus Elgin match-up in one week isn’t enough, just wait until Saturday. The schools will be at it again at the Elgin four-way tournament.

Weston-McEwen and Enterprise will also join the mix.

But wait. That’s not the only must-see set of games on Saturday.

While the four-way kicks off at noon, eight miles away in Imbler will be another great match.

Cove travels to take on the Panthers in a rematch of a battle last Saturday.

The Leopards defended their home court. Now Imbler plans to do the same. On the line is the Old Oregon League regular season title.

Believe it or not, there’s more.

Jump from the high school to the college level.

Call it a sweet dessert after the afternoon games.

Quinn Coliseum will host two slugfests as well.

The Mountaineers welcome Southern Oregon University and Oregon Tech to town.

EOU will play the Raiders, ranked No. 21, Friday at 7 p.m.

Saturday features the No. 25 Owls against the Mountaineers.

EOU received votes in the latest NAIA poll.

Both visiting teams hold an 11-1 Cascade Collegiate Conference mark.

The Mountaineers enter the weekend at 10-2.

 EOU won on the road in Ashland Sept. 6, defeating Southern in four games.

The Oregon Tech meeting went to five games before the Mountaineers fell.

This final stretch run will help define the positions headed into the conference tournament.

Oh ... and don’t forget, it’s homecoming too.

So pack a cooler, gas up your car and get plenty of caffeine flowing through your veins.

The full slate of games this weekend should do the rest.

Paul Harder is sports writer for The Observer. Reach him by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it