West Salem’s Kasey Campbell celebrates after a the Titans are awarded a point in a game against South Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at West Salem High School. The West Salem Titans won the match 3-1.
For the first time in the young season, West Salem High School’s volleyball team was challenged.
The Titans gave a definitive answer, and took control of the league in the process.
West Salem defeated South Salem 3-1 in the second game of a three-way match Tuesday evening to take sole possession of first place in the Greater Valley Conference.
There is no doubt that West Salem is the heavy favorite to win the league this season, but to get a challenge from any conference team – even one as formidable as South Salem – was unexpected.
“I mean, definitely winning the conference last year it’s kind of expected that we win again, but South Salem proved to us tonight that no one’s going to let us just have it, they’re all going to fight for it,” said senior outside hitter Paige Whipple.
“They gave us a good game, and we really needed that and they woke us up. I think that everyone’s going to be playing their best game against us because we’re the team to beat.”
West Salem improves to 4-0 overall and in the GVC. South Salem drops to 2-1 in the GVC and 4-2 overall and McNary, which came into the game No. 1 in the OSAA’s power rankings drops to 2-2 overall and in the GVC.
The Titans won the first two sets against the Saxons 25-15 and 25-19 and appeared to have the match in control behind the attack of Paige Whipple and Kasey Campbell.
“I think in the beginning, West is very good at taking the ball at you and attacking you,” South Salem coach Matt Leichty said. “I think we kind of sat back and let them attack us.”
Down 11-6 in the third set after three straight kills by Whipple – who finished with 25 kills – the Saxons got aggressive on offense and changed the complexion of the match.
Between the attacking of junior outside hitters Selbie Christensen and Bridgette O’Connor painting the lines, the Saxons rallied off seven straight points and never again trailed, winning 25-20.
South Salem led the fourth 22-19 after a kill by Chloe Elmore.
That’s when West Salem rose to a new level by spreading around their offense to put the match away, winning on a kill from the opposite side by Kimmie Bain.
“We started attacking,” West Salem coach Katie Herber said. “It was something new that I hadn’t seen from my team yet. They seemed to relax and not necessarily attack, so the fourth we really talked about attacking, focusing on the other side and what the tendencies are of the other team and tried to capitalize on that and adjust our block.
“We just went after them instead of letting them come after us, which South did a great job of.”
South Salem’s Chloe Elmore (13) hits the ball over the net in a game on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at West Salem High School. The South Salem Saxons won the match-up 3-0.
In South Salem’s match earlier Tuesday against McNary, the Saxons swept the match 25-20, 25-17, 25-15.
O’Connor had 19 kills and Christensen had seven as she worked her way back from an injury.
“Selbie had a little tweak to her shoulder last weekend, so we were just trying to be a little careful trying to ease her in,” Leichty said. “Against McNary especially, she was just trying to take off and make sure that everything felt good. Everything felt good, feels fine today.
“I think as the match went along with West, she got warm and started not holding back.”
West Salem defeated McNary 25-16, 25-21, 25-14 in the final game of the three-way.
The Titans placed sixth in the state last year and brought back every player from that team so much was expected of the team.
But the X factor for the team this season is the development of some surprising underclassmen. West Salem started sophomore rightside hitter Kimmie Bain and sophomore libero Izzy Linares, and they both have found roles in an already solid team.
“Last year, we thought we had it all figured out,” said senior setter Mattie Kelly. “We had all the puzzle pieces fit together.
“We had these incoming underclassmen come in, and they proved themselves and they totally fit in our puzzle. We need them to go as far as we want to go, and they’ve been helping out great. They fit in very well with us.”
The Titans have the components to do much more than they have before.
Though it’s still early in the season, West Salem has more potential than any Salem-Keizer Public School previously has.
“They could be state champions,” McNary coach Bruce Myers said. “They can contend with the Central Catholics and the Jesuits. They’ve got it all. They’ve got what it takes. They play the good defense. They serve well. Obviously they hit well. They cover the court. And they’ve got a lot of confidence and they’re just a good volleyball team.”
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
At West Salem
South Salem d. McNary 3-0
Set scores: 25-20, 25-17, 25-15
Kills: O’Connor (SS) 19, Hunter (M) 13; Digs: James (SS) 26; Assists: Howell (SS) 28; Blocks: Elmore (SS) 2.
West Salem d. South Salem 3-1
Set scores: 25-15, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22
Kills- Christensen (SS) 18, Whipple (WS) 25; Digs: James (SS) 19, Linares (WS) 14; Blocks: Assists: Howell (SS) 34, Kelly (WS) 42; Blocks: Howell (SS) 2, Kimmie Bain (WS) 2; Aces: Christensen (SS) 2, O’Connor (SS) 2, Whipple (WS) 2, Campbell (WS) 2.
West Salem d. McNary 3-0
Set scores: 25-16, 25-21, 25-14
Kills- Whipple (WS) 16; Digs- Linares (WS) 10; Blocks: Smith (WS) 2; Assists: Kelly (WS) 39; Aces: Campbell (WS) 3.