Saints season proves charmed

The setting was familiar. On home court, in front of home crowd, in the final game of the season. But the final dive by the opponents proved in vain, and as the heads of one cheering section dropped in disappointment, another section, which had tasted the same defeat just one year ago, rushed the floor knowing it was finally their time.

The Saints volleyball team battled through two grind-out matches with the Walla Walla Warriors Nov. 20 to take home the NWAACC volleyball championship. The victory is the first title for the program since 2007 and the first championship for third-year head coach Chelsie Speer.

“It’s unbelievable,” said a water-soaked Speer following the victory, “especially after losing in the semis again (something that also happened last year). It’s unbelievable.”

On day one of the NWWAACC tournament in the MHCC gym, the Saints faced the Eastern region Clark Penguins. The Saints came out with heavy offensive play, jumped to an early lead and won in straight games (25-19, 25-18, 25-19).

Day two pitted the Saints against the heavy-hitting Northern Region Champions, the Shoreline Dolphins, and this match was won in non-traditional fashion. The Dolphins took the first two games (25-23, 25-22), which set up a grind-out battle in game three, with the Saints rallying to a 25-16 victory. The Saints moved on to take game four 25-22, and ultimately won game five 15-10 for the match victory.

With Shoreline behind them, the Saints next played Southern Region rivals the Clackamas Cougars. The match proved to be less of a struggle, with the Saints winning in four games (25-17, 20-25, 25-10, 25-21), thereby advancing to the next day’s semifinal against the Walla Walla Warriors.

Mirroring last season, the Saints had a tough battle in the semifinal. The Warriors, who ended the regular season as second seed in the East Region, traded game victories with the Saints but won the crucial fifth game. The loss (25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-13) was the Saints’ first loss in the tournament.
Because of the loss, the Saints dropped to the loser’s bracket to face the Spokane Sasquatch to determine who would advance to the championship match against the Walla Wall Warriors. This time, the Saints moved more easily past the competition, sweeping the Sasquatch in straight games (26-24, 25-22, 15-10) to stay in championship contention.

On the final day of competition the Saints were out to prove a point. “We wanted them to know they had gotten lucky with that win,” said first team All-Tournament middle blocker Demi Belshe. “We told ourselves that we would go all out and hit and hit until they stopped us, and they couldn’t stop us.”

The first match of the day against Walla Walla would determine if the Saints would play the Warriors again. Because of the double-elimination tournament, the Saints had to beat the undefeated Warriors once in order to saddle them with a loss and force a final match. The Saints came out aggressively, dominating the first game 25-15, forcing the Warriors to commit 25 attack errors to Hood’s 12.

The Warriors played to their namesake in game two, which was a back-and-forth test of wills, but it ended in a 25-20 Saints victory. It was the third game, however, that stood apart as one of the most tension-filled periods of the entire tournament. With a motivated offense the Saints and the Warriors took turns killing and diving for the ball, going tit-for-tat, point-by-point.

The Saints pulled away from the Warriors with a four-point lead at 24-20, but then let down. The Warriors battled back to a 25-25 deadlock, but a service error gave the Saints set-point advantage, which led to an all-out rally until the Saints squeaked out a kill en route of a 27-25 set and match victory.
Speer, along with assistant coaches Stephanie Alleman and Corey Nielson, pushed the importance of mental toughness and resilience the entire season,
“Mental toughness. Resilience. That has been our word and focus the entire season,” said Speer, beaming.

The Saints, who have fought ghosts of runner-up NWAACC finishes (placing second in the 2009 and 2010 seasons), unforeseen setbacks, and injuries, went into the championship match with tunnel vision. All-Tournament MVP and setter Rylie Engleson who battled an injury early in the season, had held nothing back in match one, putting up 32 assists, 14 digs and three blocks
“After last season, we’ve talked about how hard we would have to work to get here again,” said Engleson following their championship victory.

Game one saw anxious Warriors supporters and coaches on the edge of their seats, cheering with claps of encouragement, but that was not enough to overcome the Saints home court advantage. Saints men’s basketball team members painted their chests to spell out H-O-O-D and marked every set and kill with a “SET . . . BOOM!!!” roar, and pushed the tension in the crowd and on the court to the max.

They were so rowdy that athletic director Kim Hyatt had to quiet the section several times in the match. But, Hyatt said, “It’s great to have the support within the department,” who was joined in the crowd by several Hood coaches. The first game would eventually go to the Saints 25-19.

In game two, the Saints jumped to an early 15-6 lead. With each play theSaints exposed the Warriors’ fading focus, sucker-punching each point attempt with more aggression than the last. With Warrior players dropping their heads, looking around for help, and holding back tears of frustration, the Saints dominated from beginning to end. With a jump to the net and one last kill to end the game 25-11, and take it all, Saints staff and fans rushed the court in celebration,

“I slept really well last night,” said Speer. “I woke up confident. I’ve never been so confident, even in a league match. I was confident about today, and so were the girls,” said Speer.

In the Mt. Hood gymnasium, in a puddle of water that was poured on Speer in celebration, Saints middle blocker Belshe splashed around, hugging fellow teammates, clapping her hands and chanting, “We did it, we did it.” Supporters, family, players and fans looked at one another, smiling, realizing it was finally true.