From left: Sophomore Jaymeson Jensen, junior Emersyn Johnson and senior Maycee DeLong celebrate after winning a point at a match against Burns, Tuesday, Oct. 8. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
VALE – The Vikings kicked off round two of league play with a stunning 3-1 victory over Burns Tuesday night in Vale. It was edge-of-your-seat entertainment as both teams put on a show of athleticism that left fans stunned in the bleachers.
[Watch a video of all four set points here]
Set scores ended in 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21. Vale dominated the first two sets before slipping in the third. Burns picked up strength, climbing back to take the match to a close fourth set.
“You can never take anything lightly,” said Vikings coach Shannon Steele after the match. “We still have to beat Nyssa and travel up and beat Irrigon.”
Burns is a notoriously strong team that, from the beginning, Steele considered a “team to beat.”
The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in their league, served at 97% last night.
“I was happy that we served tough,” Steele said. “We didn’t seem to get too rattled today,” she added.
The team did a good job of keeping the ball away from Burns junior Allie Hueckman, a star player who made miraculous saves throughout the match.
Emersyn Johnson led the Vikings with 11 kills. Demia Hardin and Tyanna Norton had 10 and Jaymeson Jenson had eight kills.
“Double figures,” Steele said. “That’s what you want.”
Norton gave the team three aces from the service line.
The match was far from easy, according to setter and co-captain Maycee DeLong.
“Burns is a tough team to beat,” said DeLong, who boasted 13 digs and 38 assists last night.
Vale will face Nyssa Thursday in Viking territory.
Junior Tyanna Norton blocks the ball. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
From left: Sophomore Jaymeson and junior Emersyn Johnson go in for a block. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
Senior Maycee DeLong receives the ball. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
Junior Tyanna Norton, No. 15, and senior Demia Hardin block the ball. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
Senior Maycee DeLong at the serving line (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
Seniors Maycee DeLong, No. 13, and Demia Hardin wait for Burns to serve. (The Enterprise/Yadira Lopez)
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