Saints undefeated in league play

The Saints (34-6) easily handled their last two opponents of the regular season to run their South Region record to a perfect 10-0 and clinch the regional title.

Mt. Hood’s winning streak now stands at 21 matches.

The team hopes to ride its red-hot play to another overall NWAACC crown in the championship tournament it will host in Gresham, starting on Thursday.

On Nov. 8, MHCC defeated Clackamas (25-22, 27-25, 25-14) to claim the South title.  Clackamas needed to defeat MHCC in Gresham and then win out in order to share the lead with the Saints.

The first two sets were competitive, but the Saints were able to distance themselves and never look back.

Next, Mt. Hood turned around on short rest and dispatched the Chemeketa Storm (16-22) on Wednesday.

The victory was emotional and wasn’t necessarily easy. The season finale was Sophomore Night, where the Saints players and coaches honored the second-year players seeing their last league action.

Keely Siegel, Ellie Drain, Carrie Haguewood, Morgan Entze, Shawna Smith, and Lihau Perreira were the sophomores who celebrated with their parents in the pregame ceremony.

“There’s just something special about this group. It’s all started from the sophomore leadership and the freshmen buying in from the beginning,” said head coach Chelsie Speer.

Ultimately, MHCC swept the Storm (25-19, 25-12, 26-24) and ended the regular season winning 21 matches in a row, including tournament play.

The first set was a bit of a slow start for Mt. Hood who allowed the Storm to remain tied with the Saints 12-12. Then, MHCC settled and outscored Chemeketa 13-7 to win the set. The second set included an 8-1 Saints run heading into halftime.

The third set would prove not to be as easy.

Chemeketa cleaned up the early mistakes it was making and took advantage of MHCC’s unforced errors. The Storm took a 23-22 lead before Speer called a timeout.

“I feel like they don’t have anything to lose, you see that happen a lot,” she said of the Storm’s strong play. “They played a lot better than down in Chemeketa, they’re fighting to get into the (NWAACC championship) tournament. That game was a big deal to them.”

After the timeout, the Saints won four of five points in order to extend and win the set (26-24), and sweep the match.

Mt. Hood can now rest until the NWAACC title tournament begins.

The Saints will start by playing Everett (6-19) at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Mt. Hood players and coaches like their chances, but also know they a big target.

“We do have a lot of pressure to perform,” said Speer, “the focus of the tournament is one day at a time.”

The NWAACCs are a double-elimination tournament, where teams must lose twice before they are knocked out.

MHCC’s second game of the tournament is going to be against the winner of the Spokane (31-13) vs. Pierce (20-15) match.

Speer analyzed the two potential opponents.

“Spokane will be tough. We beat them twice in Green River, but the second game went five (sets),” she said.

Although the Saints will be battling injuries through the tournament, Speer thinks they can hold their own, and keep their hot streak going.

“What a journey, that’s what comes to mind,” she said. “This is one of the most improved groups I’ve coached. We are a completely different team from Day One.”

One of Saints’ standout players has been outside hitter Lihau Perreira, who became an outspoken leader while receiving a lot of recognition late in the season. She has now earned the South Region Player of the Week award two weeks in a row.

“She’s one of those people where it is ‘This is why I coach,’ ” Speer said. “She finally believes in herself and that’s why she’s playing so well. That’s the player we’ve been trying to get from her, all along.”

That type of leadership and MHCC’s fighting spirit are going to be keys in the attempt to win NWAACCs and bring the Saints their second championship in three years.