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ENLARGE
OAKLAND — Nine is a number of special significance in many faiths.
The number 9 in Hinduism is considered complete and divine because it represents the end of a cycle in the decimal system. There are nine choirs of angels in the Christian angelic hierarchy, and Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Senior outside hitter Amanda Humphreys prayed as she stepped behind the service line at Oakland High last Saturday, her team in desperate need of at least nine points. Already trailing two sets to one and behind 20-12 in a teetering fourth game, the 10th-ranked Oakers needed a miracle.
That's when Humphreys, repeating her prayer, served nine straight points, including three aces and four in the stretch, to help capture the lead. With each point, the light of a comeback grew stronger, breaking through the humidity and noise in the Nut House.
The nine-point run — which, days later, still gives senior outside hitter Brittany Baimbridge chills as she talks about it — released a flood of confidence that helped rush the Oakers to an improbable five-match victory over Faith Bible School of Hillsboro.
“That is something we'll never forget,” Baimbridge said. “Our coach tells us not to look at the scoreboard during the game, but sometimes we keep track in our head. You are stuck in a hole and then she stepped up and everything changed.”
Oakland, which eventually prevailed 16-25, 10-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-9 on Saturday, will play St. Mary's of Medford in the Class 2A state tournament at 10 a.m. Friday at Pacific University in Forest Grove.
The Oakers (16-3, 13-1 Mountain View Conference), who claimed a share of the league title with season-long thorn North Douglas this fall, return to the state tournament for the first time since 2001.
The mayor of Oakland declared November “Volleyball Month” in an assembly at the high school last Thursday. MVC rival Yoncalla even made supportive signs for the Oakers that hung above the bleachers.
Waiting for the Oakers now are the third-ranked Crusaders, the undefeated Southern Cascade League champions whose only losses came against 4A Hidden Valley. The Medford school swept Heppner in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Crusaders (23-3), who have one senior and seven juniors, lost just one set in conference play. Sixth-year head coach James Joy is also the school's athletic director. St. Mary's was last in the state quarterfinals in 2002.
“The bulk of our juniors have been on the varsity team since their freshman year,” Joy said. “We had to get them up to speed and it takes time. It's been a rewarding season.”
Junior middle hitter Kylee Adderson has a team-high 169 kills and 73 blocks this season. Junior designated setter Jordan Jackson has averaged 8.3 assists per set in the Crusaders' 5-1 system and sophomore Alexi Provost-Shean, the state high-jump champion as a freshman last spring, owns 72 blocks.
None of the tournament talk would have been possible without the rally against Faith Bible.
Humphreys said she can hardly remember the confusing beginning to her team's highly anticipated match.
“They had a good hitter,” Humphreys recalled. “We weren't really getting our blocks quite right. One of their hitters was a lefty. We weren't expecting them to have that.”
Oakland had not opened a match with two straight losses during the regular season.
“I think we all knew we could do better, but at the same time we were thinking it was over,” Humphreys said. “We hadn't had games like that all season. I was just ready to have some fun. It was either going to be our last game or the game that got us to Forest Grove.”
Between games two and three, fifth-year head coach Esther Arts spoke with the Oakers, who looked blind-sided.
“I told them, ‘Can we not block these kids? Can we pick it up? We do this every day!'” Arts recalls saying. “Then they settled down.”
Oakland tightened its coverage in the third set with successful results before stumbling out of the gates in Game 4.
“There was a stretch (in Game 4) where we weren't receiving the ball well,” Humphreys said. “They didn't have the best server in the world, but we just got unfocused.”
Humphreys generated instant confidence for her teammates as she set up to serve in the fourth set. Considered one of the most consistent on the squad, she took one last deep breath before releasing the ball.
“I don't remember much,” Humphreys said. “I was mostly praying the whole time.”
Sophomore middle hitter Michelle Cottier had 13 blocks in the final three games and McLean added a run of four straight serves in Game 5 to help end it.
“By that time we just felt so in control,” Arts said.
Fans swarmed the floor. The Oakers stood stunned for a split second, their eyes knotted in the patterns of the cotton net and the still portraits facing them.
“At the end of game the crowd rushed in, and it was like no one really saw that,” Baimbridge said. “It was a team moment and it was like, ‘Did that really just happen? I love you guys.'”
After thanking their fans, the girls rushed into the locker room. Amid all the celebration, junior Courtney Burford called her mother, who was unable to attend.
“None of us knew she wasn't there, so somebody brought over a cell phone and we were just yelling, ‘We did it! We won!'” Humphreys said.
Baimbridge wonders now how long the nine-point run will be remembered. She said she thinks it might inspire others. She hopes it won't soon be forgotten.
“You hear people after the game say ‘We still believed in you,'” Baimbridge said. “It kind of meant a lot to me, to hear they were still believing in a team that's down two and it's not looking pretty. This is the most confidence-building and most spiritual volleyball match I've ever been a part of.”
• You can reach sports reporter Dan Jones at 957-4219 or by e-mail at djones@nrtoday.com
The number 9 in Hinduism is considered complete and divine because it represents the end of a cycle in the decimal system. There are nine choirs of angels in the Christian angelic hierarchy, and Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Senior outside hitter Amanda Humphreys prayed as she stepped behind the service line at Oakland High last Saturday, her team in desperate need of at least nine points. Already trailing two sets to one and behind 20-12 in a teetering fourth game, the 10th-ranked Oakers needed a miracle.
That's when Humphreys, repeating her prayer, served nine straight points, including three aces and four in the stretch, to help capture the lead. With each point, the light of a comeback grew stronger, breaking through the humidity and noise in the Nut House.
The nine-point run — which, days later, still gives senior outside hitter Brittany Baimbridge chills as she talks about it — released a flood of confidence that helped rush the Oakers to an improbable five-match victory over Faith Bible School of Hillsboro.
“That is something we'll never forget,” Baimbridge said. “Our coach tells us not to look at the scoreboard during the game, but sometimes we keep track in our head. You are stuck in a hole and then she stepped up and everything changed.”
Oakland, which eventually prevailed 16-25, 10-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-9 on Saturday, will play St. Mary's of Medford in the Class 2A state tournament at 10 a.m. Friday at Pacific University in Forest Grove.
The Oakers (16-3, 13-1 Mountain View Conference), who claimed a share of the league title with season-long thorn North Douglas this fall, return to the state tournament for the first time since 2001.
The mayor of Oakland declared November “Volleyball Month” in an assembly at the high school last Thursday. MVC rival Yoncalla even made supportive signs for the Oakers that hung above the bleachers.
Waiting for the Oakers now are the third-ranked Crusaders, the undefeated Southern Cascade League champions whose only losses came against 4A Hidden Valley. The Medford school swept Heppner in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Crusaders (23-3), who have one senior and seven juniors, lost just one set in conference play. Sixth-year head coach James Joy is also the school's athletic director. St. Mary's was last in the state quarterfinals in 2002.
“The bulk of our juniors have been on the varsity team since their freshman year,” Joy said. “We had to get them up to speed and it takes time. It's been a rewarding season.”
Junior middle hitter Kylee Adderson has a team-high 169 kills and 73 blocks this season. Junior designated setter Jordan Jackson has averaged 8.3 assists per set in the Crusaders' 5-1 system and sophomore Alexi Provost-Shean, the state high-jump champion as a freshman last spring, owns 72 blocks.
None of the tournament talk would have been possible without the rally against Faith Bible.
Humphreys said she can hardly remember the confusing beginning to her team's highly anticipated match.
“They had a good hitter,” Humphreys recalled. “We weren't really getting our blocks quite right. One of their hitters was a lefty. We weren't expecting them to have that.”
Oakland had not opened a match with two straight losses during the regular season.
“I think we all knew we could do better, but at the same time we were thinking it was over,” Humphreys said. “We hadn't had games like that all season. I was just ready to have some fun. It was either going to be our last game or the game that got us to Forest Grove.”
Between games two and three, fifth-year head coach Esther Arts spoke with the Oakers, who looked blind-sided.
“I told them, ‘Can we not block these kids? Can we pick it up? We do this every day!'” Arts recalls saying. “Then they settled down.”
Oakland tightened its coverage in the third set with successful results before stumbling out of the gates in Game 4.
“There was a stretch (in Game 4) where we weren't receiving the ball well,” Humphreys said. “They didn't have the best server in the world, but we just got unfocused.”
Humphreys generated instant confidence for her teammates as she set up to serve in the fourth set. Considered one of the most consistent on the squad, she took one last deep breath before releasing the ball.
“I don't remember much,” Humphreys said. “I was mostly praying the whole time.”
Sophomore middle hitter Michelle Cottier had 13 blocks in the final three games and McLean added a run of four straight serves in Game 5 to help end it.
“By that time we just felt so in control,” Arts said.
Fans swarmed the floor. The Oakers stood stunned for a split second, their eyes knotted in the patterns of the cotton net and the still portraits facing them.
“At the end of game the crowd rushed in, and it was like no one really saw that,” Baimbridge said. “It was a team moment and it was like, ‘Did that really just happen? I love you guys.'”
After thanking their fans, the girls rushed into the locker room. Amid all the celebration, junior Courtney Burford called her mother, who was unable to attend.
“None of us knew she wasn't there, so somebody brought over a cell phone and we were just yelling, ‘We did it! We won!'” Humphreys said.
Baimbridge wonders now how long the nine-point run will be remembered. She said she thinks it might inspire others. She hopes it won't soon be forgotten.
“You hear people after the game say ‘We still believed in you,'” Baimbridge said. “It kind of meant a lot to me, to hear they were still believing in a team that's down two and it's not looking pretty. This is the most confidence-building and most spiritual volleyball match I've ever been a part of.”
• You can reach sports reporter Dan Jones at 957-4219 or by e-mail at djones@nrtoday.com
