JOSEPH UPSETS UNION; ELGIN BEATS PE

By The Observer

JOSEPH Joseph shook off a slow start and delivered an upset in the Wapiti League volleyball ranks Friday.

The Eagles, needing help from other teams and wins to stay alive in the playoff hunt, beat visiting Union, 4-15, 15-9, 16-14.

We had some good blocking and stopped (Union) on offense for a while. Then our girls started hitting on offense, which we havent done in a few weeks, Joseph coach Kendall Hayes said.

Lea Ganos and Anna Yost provided solid performances at the net for Joseph. Ganos had 13 kills and 12 blocks and Yost added 12 kills and nine blocks. Kendra Carpenter had seven kills, Jessie Botham had six kills and six blocks, and Katie Couch had 12 digs.

It was Unions first league loss in three weeks. Joseph (5-12 overall, 3-7 league) broke a seven-match losing streak.

Joseph, which received help Friday when Imbler and Pine Eagle lost, travels to Halfway next Friday to play Pine Eagle twice. Union (16-4, 9-2) hosts Wallowa Friday.

Cougars clinch tourney

IMBLER The Imbler Panthers had a 6-0 lead in the first game Friday against the Wallowa Cougars.

It didnt hold up.

The Cougars had a 4-0 lead in the second game.

That stuck.

Wallowa clinched a spot in the Wapiti League district tournament with a 15-12, 15-8 victory over Imbler.

The Cougars went on a 9-2 run after finding themselves down 6-0 in the first game.

Im glad to see them not lose their composure, Wallowa coach Terri Wilson said of her team.

Neither team served particularly well, but Wallowa (18-6, 9-2) did hit strongly. Amanda Wilson had nine kills and Tina Stitzel added seven. Laura Lewis led the Cougars with 20 defensive digs.

Imbler (9-13, 5-6) leads the race for the final district tournament spot, but by only a half-game with three remaining.

It was a tough one to lose, but Wallowas a tough team, Imbler coach Jennifer Teeter said.

Amy Clerget had six kills and Tiffany Rasmussen added four. Liz Woody had three serving aces, including two in Imblers early run.

Wallowa is at Union and and Imbler hosts Nyssa on Friday.

Elgin squeaks past Spartans

ELGIN Kristi Case led the hitting attack with five kills as the Elgin Huskies held off the Pine Eagle Spartans 15-12, 15-11 in Wapiti League volleyball action Friday.

Deleah Wiles and Ashley Rysdam both set a real good game, Elgin coach Leeann Case said.

Kristin Schumacher led Elgin with five serving aces on 100 percent serving.

Elgin (7-12, 3-8) plays Enterprise on Friday.

Powder Valley crushes Crane

CRANE Powder Valley cruised past Crane on the road Friday.

The Badgers spanked the hosting Crane Mustangs, 15-1, 15-7, in Old Oregon League action.

The win kept Powder Valley (11-2, 7-1) one match behind Cove, the division leader.

Powder Valley and Cove are at the Wallowa four-way tournament today.

Enterprise wins in two games

NYSSA Enterprise overcame a slow start to beat Nyssa, 15-7, 15-4 Friday.

Enterprise (15-4, 8-3) fell behind 4-2 in the first game, but rallied to win the Wapiti League match in two games.

Were a slow-starting team, as usual, Enterprise coach Lisa Farwell said. We fell behind 4-2 before we kicked it in. We had a lot of missed serves tonight.

Justinn Christensen went 10-for-10 serving, Kazzie Dawson was 12-for-12 hitting with two kills, and Ashley Anderson added six kills.

Enterprise hosts Elgin Friday.