Photo courtesy of Burns High School Volleyball

The 2023 Eastern Oregon League District Champions. Back row from L-R: Amaya Ballard, Chloe Rothwell, Danye Runnels, Mackenzie King, Akylah Kaino, Myah Rothwell, Ashley Wright, and Bailey Temple. Front row from L-R: Natalee Otley-Smith, Hayley Smith, Jocelyn Graham, and Taylor Trent.

Hilanders down Vale for Eastern Oregon League title

The Burns Hilander volleyball team defeated the Vale Vikings, 3-1, on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Burns, for the third time this year, securing a district title and second-round home playoff game.

The Vikings came out fired up, while the Hilanders looked flat, and took the first set 25-22. Burns then took the next three sets, 25-21, 25-11, 25-19 for their fifth league title in the last six years, excluding the 2020-21 COVID-19 season where Burns finished 15-1.

Leading the Hilanders on offense was Akylah Kaino, who finished with 27 kills. Jocelyn Graham added 11, while Ashley Wright had eight. Myah Rothwell had four, Danye Runnels had two, and Taylor Trent had one.

Graham led the team with five aces and a 96 percent serve. Wright finished with four aces, Kaino had two, and Bailey Temple had one.

Kaino led with four blocks, while Graham, Trent, Runnels, and M. Rothwell had one apiece.

Kaino and Graham each finished with 17 digs. Temple ended the night with 13, Runnels picked up seven, C. Rothwell and Wright had five, and M. Rothwell added one.

Wright led the team with 41 of the team’s 47 assists. Graham and M. Rothwell finished with two, while Runnels and Kaino had one each.

The Hilanders finish the regular season in the No. 4 spot in 3A, with an overall record of 25-5 and a perfect 10-0 record in league, with a first-place finish in the Eastern Oregon League, earning them a first-round bye, and a second-round home playoff game.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Hilanders will host the winner of the Warrenton/Nyssa game. The Warrenton/Nyssa game will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The No. 13 ranked Warrenton Warriors finished the regular season 16-7 and 9-3 in the Coastal Range League. Nyssa finished the season 11-18 and 5-5 in Eastern Oregon League play and are currently ranked No. 29.

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Mustang volleyball team claims 2023 High Desert League title

The Crane Mustang volleyball team upended Jordan Valley and Adrian in straight sets, in the High Desert League District Tournament held at Crane Union High School on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Stats were unavailable at press time.

The Mustangs have won the title four out of the last five years, not counting the 2020-21 COVID-19 season, where the girls were 10-1.

The No. 1 ranked Mustangs finished the regular season with a 28-2 record and a perfect 6-0 in league play. They face-off against the No. 36 Condon Blue Devils from the Big Sky, who finished the regular season 11-8 and placed third in the league.

Crane will host round one of the 2023 OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A Volleyball State Championship playoffs on Wednesday, Oct. 25, with the first set scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

If Crane moves on, they’ll host the winner of the Bonanza/Mohawk game on Saturday, Oct. 28.