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--> --> Nov. 12: Grizz take fifth at state By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings PORTLAND - The third time was the charm for the Ashland High volleyball team. After suffering a pair of defeats to Southern Oregon Conference champion Roseburg during the regular season, the Grizzlies got the Indians back when it counted - downing Roseburg 15-11, 8-15, 15-10 to win the consolation championship at the Class 4A state tournament at the University of Portland's Chiles Center Saturday. "I couldn't think of a better way to end the year," Ashland senior Kacey Zundel said. "That match against, that team. That's what we wanted." The fifth-place finish bested Ashland's 1999 effort of sixth place, but was still behind a pair of third-place finishes in 1988 and 1989. "That match was a painting of our whole year," Grizz head coach Josh Rohlfing said. "One moment we are playing to our potential and dominating. Then the next moment we are undisciplined and inconsistent." The consolation match took fans on both sides on and up-and-down ride. Roseburg bounded out to a 7-0 lead in Game 1 as Rohlfing had to burn both of his timeouts. Finally something clicked for the Grizz as they took advantage of three straight Indian errors to cut the lead to 7-3. Junior Tessa Maurer came through with a pair of kills and behind the serving of junior Megan Beugli, the Grizz had cut the lead to 7-6. Ashland had Roseburg in their sights for the rest of the opening game. A block by junior Marla Morin cut the lead to 8-7. Senior Molly Grossmann's ace cut it to 9-8, before Roseburg pulled ahead 11-8. But back came the Grizz. Beugli served for a pair of points to trim the lead to 11-10. A Morin kill tied the game and after two Roseburg errors, Morin came through with a kill and a block to end Game 1. Roseburg showed why they were the SOC champs in Game 2, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Then after Ashland had come back and taken a 6-5 lead, the Indians closed out the game on a 10-2 run to set up a thrilling Game 3. The finale was more than anyone could imagine. The Indians once again jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Back came Ashland as aces by Tiffany Talbott, Emily Stone and Zundel and a huge kill by Morin tied the game at 5-5. At 6-6 both teams stalled - the game in all would feature 46 sideouts - and Ashland ran out of substitutions, but the Grizzlies plowed ahead as Morin emerged from the pack. After the Indians had taken a slim 7-6 lead, Morin chipped in with three blocks and a kill to give the Grizz an 11-7 lead. "I told her during the timeout that she was going to go out and take over," Rohlfing said. "We needed her to go out and be the stud we knew she could be. She controlled the flow of everything at the net." Kills by senior Ashley Fence and Zundel gave Ashland a 13-9 lead and then Fence stepped back to the service line for an ace and a 14-10 advantage. Finally it was one last error by Roseburg that ended the 1 hour and 34 minute marathon match. Morin finished the day with a team-high 15 kills and seven blocks. Fence was not far behind with 13 kills and two blocks, while Zundel added seven kills and Maurer added five. Earlier in the day the Grizzlies dispatched Portland Interscholastic League champion Benson with a 17-15, 15-13 victory. Zundel and Morin led the way for Ashland with eight kills apiece, while Fence came through with six. Ashland finished the year with a 21-9 record, including an impressive 6-1 march through the playoffs with the lone loss coming to undefeated and state champion Gresham. "This team never gave up," Rohlfing said. "There was times when it looked like we were down and out and they would find a way to come back." The squad was led by a pack of seniors - Zundel, Grossmann, Talbott and Fence - that was the heart of the team. "For this to be the end of our career is just amazing," Zundel said. "When I was a sophomore and saw the seniors leave that was tough to watch. But now to leave the program I know how they felt. But this is a great way to go out." The Grizzlies also won the Sportsmanship Award at the state tournament, not surprising to Rohlfing. "This team - especially the seniors - is all about character," he said. "This is the type of team a father and bring his young girl to watch play and they will have an impression and that girl. On and off the court these girls exemplify character." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing