Silverton High School fans cheer for their team but they lost all three sets against Summit during their first round game in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Hillsboro, Ore.
Silverton High School’s Kayce McLaughlin (6) hits the ball past a Summit defender during their first round game in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Hillsboro, Ore.
Silverton High School’s Maggie Buchholz (8) goes up for a kill but is blocked by Summit defenders during their first round game in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Hillsboro, Ore.
HILLSBORO – A young Silverton High team was in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament for the first time since 2000.
Their inexperience showed.
The Foxes led the majority of the second set and early in the third set against perennial state power Summit in Friday’s first round of the OSAA Class 5A state tournament at Liberty High School.
But Silverton’s youth and enthusiasm couldn’t hold off the age and experience of Summit in a 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 loss.
“A lot of nerves, not just for the players, but I think the fans,” third-year Silverton coach Jill Walker said. “Everyone is not knowing what to expect and the excitement of it all.
“Unfortunately, sometimes those nerves take over and you don’t end up going as far as you’d like to go. But we’re ready to come tomorrow and put our game faces on and see what tomorrow brings.”
No. 11 Silverton (16-8) next plays in the consolation semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday against Ashland.
Silverton High School’s Ally Fennimore (5) serves the ball against Summit during their first round game in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Hillsboro, Ore.
No. 3 seed Summit (16-6) advances to Friday’s 8:30 p.m. state semifinal round to play Lebanon.
Not only was a Silverton team with two seniors in the state tournament for the first time in 15 years, this season was the Foxes’ first in the state playoffs since 2010.
And it was Walker’s first time in a state tournament after stops at Regis and Scio.
Summit dominated the first set, but Silverton took the initial lead in the second set, led 13-6 on a block by Rachel Renfrow and was up as late as 20-19.
“We were in the groove,” Walker said. “We had all the pieces. Our serve-receive was there, our sets were there, our hits were going down. When we finally find that groove, it’s staying in that groove.”
Silverton started strong in the third and was up 6-4 on a kill by Renfrow, but Summit came back strong to move on.
A Silverton team that starts three juniors and two sophomores – including Olivia Pavlicek, who had seven kills – overachieved by making the state tournament this season.
This experience is going to be invaluable to the team for the future.
“A lot is inexperience and not knowing what to do when they’re put in situations because they haven’t had the experience to know what to do,” Walker said.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Summit d. Silverton 3-0
Set scores: 25-17, 25-21, 25-17.
Kills- Olivia Pavlicek (Sil) 7; Blocks- Rachel Renfrow (Sil) 2; Aces- Kayce McLaughlin (Sil) 2.
Silverton High School’s Rachel Renfrow (13) and Kayce McLaughlin (6) goes up for a block against a Summit hitter during their first round game in the OSAA Class 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Hillsboro, Ore.