Volleyball: Columbians beat Regis to earn first trip to Elite Eight since 1976
Monday, November 3, 2008 11:01 AM PST
By Janine Manny
For The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleRAINIER — Rainier’s Zaschia Walker will likely be black and blue today from all the times she dived to the floor Saturday in the Columbians’ first-round Oregon State 3A volleyball playoff win against Regis.
But for now, the senior defensive specialist is all smiles.
“We’ve been waiting all season to play teams who can compete at our level,” Walker said.
After taking the Lewis and Clark 3A League title with a 12-0 record, Rainier dispatched Warrenton last week in a district playoff match and handled Regis 26-24, 25-16, 22-25, 25-13. Rainier will now travel to Eugene to play in the eight-team state tournament at Lane Community
College, and is tentatively scheduled to face Vale at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
It was 1976 when Rainier last went to the state volleyball tournament, years before the current team members were born. That 1976 team finished second.
Rainier coach Laurie Womack said she and her team were excited to be returning to the Elite Eight.
“The competition will get tougher and tougher, and these girls want to hold themselves to the same standards they played in league,” Womack said. “They’re learning they have to fight harder for the wins. Not all of their hits are landing — some of them get blocked and the other teams are also hitting harder.”
As Rainier’s libero, Walker can substitute for any back-row player when the ball is not in play, even without prior notice to officials.
Because of her specialty, Walker spends all of her time digging to return serves and kills. She is not allowed to play in the front row, so her team was very pleased when she scored a kill from the back row in the third game.
“We’re more excited when we’re playing a good team,” Walker said. “If they play hard, we have to play harder back.”
Walker also went 14-for-14 from the service line with two aces.
“Zaschia sees the ball and knows the court,” Womack said. “She can anticipate when they’ll hit in the corner. We count on her leadership and level head.”
In the first game of Saturday’s match, Regis came out strong and took a 7-3 lead. But after six straight serves by Niki Wagner, including an ace, and two kills and a block from Raeanne Hanks, Rainier led 9-7 — and didn’t trail again.
Hanks, the hardest hitter on the team, finished the match with 13 kills, two blocks, 13-of-14 serves and two aces.
Wagner finished with eight kills, 12-of-13 serves and two aces. Although her kills don’t leave scorch marks on the floor like Hanks’, she has a knack for placement.
“Niki has a way of finding those holes,” Womack said. “We count on her, and when we needed her (Saturday), she came through and found those holes for us.”
Rainier dropped the third game of the match to Regis, struggling with a few too many miscues. At one point, Walker and Hanks ran into each going for the ball, and it dropped in for a Regis point.
“We don’t always communicate well, we need to work on that,” Walker said. “But we know each other and we’ve played so many games together, we know who is going to do what. We play smart. Our bench helps by calling out where to tip or where the ball is. Mollee (Schwegler) is also good at seeing the court.”
Rainier stormed back and took the fourth game 25-13. Schwegler finished with 10 kills, two blocks and was a perfect 18-of-18 serves with two aces.
Amanda Schwegler added eight kills.
“Amanda had her best game so far. She was killing them on the line,” Womack said.
Denae Hunter added two kills and 17-of-20 serves, including two aces. Setter Cassie Hanks had two kills, a block, 34 assists and was 15-of-16 serves — while wearing a leg brace.
“Cassie tore her ACL and had surgery in March,” Womack said. “This is her first sport back and she’s great. You wouldn’t even know she’s hurt.”
Womack said Bailey Jackson and Michelle Pritchard also had a solid defensive games.
CRSA wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:06 AM:
I'm pretty sure that Rainier has not only gone to State since 1976 but won the State Championship in 1992 and 1993 and it seems like they have had some other decent teams since then. "
JAFCO wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:14 AM:
holly08 wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:13 AM:
In fact, we entered the 1994 State Tournament as the #1 seed (being returning State Champions, as well as 3 years undefeated in league the Cowapa League). I would say that qualified us as the elite 8.
I rarely relive the glory days, yet find that this article is very upsetting. MANY of the 1993 and 1994 team members, coached by Len Robison, went on to play college volleyball. All scholarships a direct result of your State appearances (many over the tenure of Coach Robison's direction) and our consecutive State Championship Titles.
It is important to note that the State birth for this year's Columbian Volleyball team is a wonderful achievement. I fully support their journey and hope that the reporters ACCURATELY report this team's finish...as it is important to athlete's that put so much time and energy into their sport and value any State Tournament appearance! "
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