The Elgin Huskies volleyball team wrapped up the 2009 state tournament with a sixth-place finish. Observer file photo

The Huskies (28-17 overall) won one of three games at the eight-team Class 2A tournament Nov. 13-14 at Pacific University in Forest Grove.

Elgin lost 3-1 in its opening contest in the quarterfinals Friday to the Salem Academy Crusaders (26-6).

The Imbler volleyball team celebrates after clinching its second straight Class 1A state title in Forest Grove Saturday. Nancy Campbell photo

Led by the remarkable performance of senior outside hitter Sarah Bowers-Ott (35 kills, 17 digs), the Panthers (29-3) overpowered Helix (15-4) in a 25-9, 25-16, 25-15 win. Bowers-Ott earned the Qwest Player-of-the-Game Award and was selected to the All State Tournament First Team.  

The Panthers volleyball team is poised to make a return trip to the state title.

But Imbler isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re trying to take it one game at a time,” Panthers head coach Jennifer Teeter said. “That’s been our key all season long. We can’t look ahead.”

Imbler finished 8-0 and will take on Echo in the first round of the Class 1A Playoffs Friday night. Observer file photo

Three local teams begin the trek this weekend through the field.

After beating up on each other, Wallowa, Cove and Imbler will once again turn the focus back to the rest of the state.

The last memory the La Grande football team has of the state playoffs is a 35-33 loss to Estacada in 2007, when the Tigers entered the playoffs with a doleful 1-8 record.

La Grande enters the 2009 playoffs with new hope, winning two of its final four games entering its first round playoff game with Sweet Home Friday night.

“It’s like another season for us,” La Grande head coach Matt Wolcott said. “First it was preseason, then league play, and now the playoffs. We feel good about ourselves.”

EUGENE — It was a successful weekend for the

La Grande cross country team at the Class 4A State Meet in Eugene.

The Tigers boys team finished in eighth place with a score of 222, one spot higher than it placed last season. The girls team placed 13th with 332 points.

UNION’S KATE STEWART (No. 108) grabbed a top-10 finish at the cross country state championships Saturday. Observer file photo

“We didn’t leave the race sad at all,” senior Tom Sheehy said. “As a team we competed really well.

“Nyssa is a great team, and we’re happy for them. They’re our friendly rivalry. It’s good to keep the title in Eastern Oregon.”

STANFIELD — The Stanfield rushing attack has wreaked havoc on the Blue Mountain Conference this season. Friday night against Elgin was no exception.

The Tigers (6-2, 5-2) had two players rush for over 100 yards in a 54-14 route of Elgin (4-5, 4-3) to make the playoffs for just the second time in the last nine years.

Stanfield could not be stopped on the first couple of possessions, as they took a 27-0 lead after the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime.

Jordyn Jackson hauled in some passes, but the Mountaineers couldn’t reel in No. 2 Carroll College to close out the 2009 season Saturday at Community Stadium. CHRIS BAXTER

 The No. 22 Mountaineers battled with the Frontier Conference champion Saints. Eastern Oregon led three times during the game, and scored 14 points in the final five minutes of the game to come close to the upset win.

 Carroll defeated EOU on Senior Day in La Grande and emotions were high with playoff implications for the Mountaineers. The teams combined for 1,023 yards of total offense. Eastern senior, Jordyn Jackson, broke the school record for pass receptions for a touchdown in a season with two on Saturday. Jackson had 10 touchdown receptions in 2009. Jackson ended his career at Eastern Oregon with eight catches for 142 yards.

Senior Chelsea Herron sets up the offense during a sweep of Warner Pacific Friday at Quinn Coliseum. PAUL HARDER

Eastern Oregon University used the two wins to grab the third-place seed in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Six players bid farewell to Quinn Coliseum Friday against the Knights.