The Husky volleyball team finished second in its pool but was knocked out of bracket play by Creswell in a tournament held Saturday in Sweet Home.
The Huskies defeated Cottage Grove in both games during pool play.
The Huskies split with McKay an lost both of its games to Estacada.
Against Estacada, “I thought we played fairly decently,” Coach Heide Nichol said. “They just played better than we did.”
The Huskies moved into bracket play against Creswell and won their first game 15-11. They lost the next two 15-7 and 15-12, eliminating them from the tournament.
Rainier defeated Estacada in the championship to win the tournament.
Kara Howell served 27-27 on the day with three aces. Teresa Lewis served 29-33 with five aces, and Amanda Burcham served 16-24 with seven aces.
Stephanie Miller was 50-56 hitting with 10 kills. Sarah Brocard was 20-32 with five kills. Howell was 22-30 with four kills.
“They really started to gel as a team,” Coach Nichol said. “I thought we had some really great play going on.”
The competition was strong all the way around at the tournament, with no single player or team standing out, Coach Nichol said. “It was really good competition, a great way to start out our season.”
Thursday night, the Huskies dominated the Capital Conference in a jamboree where they defeated every other Capital Conference team.
Teams played a single game or 20 minutes against each Capital Conference rival.
The Huskies defeated Cascade 15-7, North Marion 15-2, Central 9-6, Stayton 15-6, Molalla 15-13 and Sisters 15-4.
The game against Central ended after 20 minutes.
“I thought (Stayton) will be the toughest game in our league,” Coach Nichol said. “I think for whatever reason, they just didn’t give us a real good look.”
Molalla provided the toughest game of the night, Coach Nichol said, and Sisters had what’s probably its best hitter out that night.
Serving, Lewis led at 29-31 with six aces. Heather Wall was 19-19 with three aces. Burcham was 12-16 with six aces. Howell was 12-15 with three aces. Miller was 15-19 with two aces.
Hitting, Miller was 21-25 with five kills. Brocard was 11-16 with four kills. Howell was 14-18 with three kills.
Katie Ives hit 15-17 with three kills, Coach Nichol said. She was excellent in this tournament as she moved forward and “found her niche.”
Setting, Amanda Burcham “has been doing an amazing job getting the ball to us” no matter what the condition of the ball is, Coach Nichol said. Defensive specialists Lewis, Wall, Katie Reynolds and Crystal Fowler are improving and getting things they couldn’t have gotten before daily doubles started.
The Huskies travel to Sisters Thursday night and Junction City on Saturday. They host Central Tuesday night.