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Crusaders win title again CENTRAL POINT � With a Southern Cascade League title and bragging rights on the line, the St. Mary�s volleyball team slipped past Cascade Christian at Scenic Middle School on Tuesday. The second-ranked Crusaders sewed up their fifth straight conference title by dispatching the 10th-ranked Challengers in three, 5-15, 17-15, 15-12. "They (Cascade Christian) came out fired-up," St. Mary�s coach James Joy said. "They were hitting well, passing well. Cascade played great." It was all that enthusiasm and some uncharacteristic mistakes by St. Mary�s, who had 10 hitting errors in the opener, that allowed the Challengers to coast to the Game 1 win. In the second game, Cascade Christian looked like it might sweep away the Crusaders� title night as the Challengers took a 14-11 lead. St. Mary�s reeled off three straight points, however, and tied things up before Krystal Holtz registered a service ace for the Challengers. Sophomore Kristen Easton finished things for the Crusaders by serving out points 16 and 17. "That second game was the key," said Cascade Christian coach Susan Gmur. "We had match point but our serving errors cost us." St. Mary�s took the Game 2 momentum into the final contest, racing out to a 7-1 lead before the Challengers fought back to tie things up. The Crusaders trailed 12-10 when Kristen Zielony toed the service line and finished off the match for St. Mary�s. Zielony finished the night with 15 digs, 18 kills and was 16-of-16 serving to go along with three aces. Teammate Lani Brophy added 32 assists while Libby Trum had eight kills and 11 digs. Sophomore middle Christina Vainetti also had a big night for St. Mary�s. Whitney Brookins led the Cascade Christian attack with 26 assists while Kristin Salamone had seven kills and six blocks. Kelly Clarke added six kills and four blocks for the Challengers. St. Mary�s improved to 24-6 overall and 9-0 in SCL play. The Challengers fell to 21-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play. PHOENIX 16-15, ROGUE RIVER 14-12 � At Rogue River, sophomore right side Joni Mahon went 13-for-13 from the service line and served out both games as Phoenix held off feisty Rogue River in the Skyline Conference match. Senior outside hitter Sutton Jackson registered eight kills and junior outside hitter April Darby added six as the Pirates clinched third place in the Skyline and a home game in the conference playoffs next Tuesday. The victory was Phoenix�s 10th in 13 conference games and boosted their overall record to 25-8. MAZAMA 15-15, ILLINOIS VALLEY 9-3 � At Klamath Falls, junior Megan Britton had seven kills to led Mazama to a Skyline win. Sophomore Krystal Lawerence led Mazama, 4-9 in Skyline, defensively with 16 blocks. HENLEY 15-15, NORTH VALLEY 0-1 � At Klamath Falls, Alice Myers had six kills and four stuff blocks and Brianna Maupin was a perfect 17-for-17 serving with six aces as Henley rolled past North Valley. Samantha Young added four kills for the Hornets, who improved to 31-2 overall and 12-1 in Skyline play. LAKEVIEW 15-15, HIDDEN VALLEY 2-3 � At Murphy, the Honker middle hitters combined for 12 kills and outside hitter Jamie Ruda added five as Lakeview improved to 12-1 in Skyline play. Frances Hartman had eight kills and Kristi Albertson added four, with Albertson also serving for six straight points in the first game to give Lakeview (38-1) an 8-1 lead. Freshman Jenna Kiely took to the service line in the second game with a 4-2 lead and turned that into a 12-2 advantage as the Honkers rolled past Hidden Valley. BUTTE FALLS 15-15, HOSANNA 6-2 � At Klamath Falls, senior Elizabeth McLauchlan served six straight points in Game 1 and finished with four aces as Butte Falls remained unbeaten in Skyline A League play at 10-0. Freshman Sarah Matthews led the Loggers in blocks with three. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.