Submitted Photo

The Burns Hilander girls finished up the season as 3A volleyball state champions, sweeping Cascade Christian in the finals.

The Hilander girls finished up the season as 3A volleyball state champions, sweeping Cascade Christian in the finals.

On paper, it looked like the Hilanders might have some serious competition on their side of the bracket. However, the girls made short work of anyone who dared stand in their way.

Starting in the quarterfinals, the Hilanders (12-1) and the Sutherlin Bulldogs (9-4) met at Crook County High School on Tuesday, April 6. The girls swept the Bulldogs in three sets, 25-8, 25-6, 25-12, to advance on the semifinals.

Allie Hueckman was player of the game with a .552 hitting percentage and a 59 percent kill rate. She also amassed 17 kills, served 100 percent with two aces, nine digs, and 8 receptions.

Kaitlyn Wright finished with eight kills, Mackenzie King had six kills, and Alicyn Hoke had three.

Serving 100 percent was Macy Temple with six aces, Wright with three aces, Kaya Dobson with one ace, followed by Hallie SkunkCap and Lacie Tiller.

Dobson ended the day with seven digs, and SkunkCap and Kaiden Raif finished with six.

Raif led the team with 30 assists.

Wright had eight receptions, while Dobson and Temple each had three.

•••

In the semifinals, the Hilanders faced off Santiam Christian at Creswell High School on Friday, April 10. The girls struggled in the first set, as the 8-0 Eagles got the upper hand 21-25. The Hilanders were able to strike back to go on a three-set win, defeating Santiam Christian in four sets, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-9.

Allie Hueckman was the player of the game with 15 kills, five aces, eight blocks, 14 digs, and 10 receptions.

Kaitlyn Wright had 15 kills as well, and Mackenzie King added five, Alicyn Hoke had four, Kaiden Raif had three, and Kyla Epling finished with one.

Hallie SkunkCap led the Hilanders with seven aces, Kaya Dobson added three, and Raif finished with two.

Raif ended with eight blocks, and King has seven.

Wright finished with 14 digs, Dobson had 10, Raif had nine, and Macy Temple ended with seven.

Raif led the girls with 36 assists, and Dobson had two.

Wright led the team with 18 receptions, Dobson finished with 13, Templed had 11, and SkunkCap ended with 8.

•••

The Hilanders (14-1) then met the Cascade Christian Challengers (15-0) in the finals of the 3A Culminating Week Tournament, after beating the Eagles earlier in the day. 

Cascade Christian was unable to hold back the Hilanders as they defeated the Challengers in straight sets, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16.

Kaiden Raif was player of the game with 28 assists, eight digs, and two aces with 100 percent serving.

Kaitlyn Wright led the team with 15 kills, Allie Hueckman finished with 11, Mackenzie King had four, and Alicyn Hoke had one.

Macy Temple led the Hilanders with four aces, Wright had three, and Hallie SkunkCap finished with two. 

Wright led the team with 13 digs, Hueckman had 11, and Skunkcap ended with seven.

Temple led with 10 receptions, Wright had eight, Skunkcap had seven, and Kaya Dobson finished with five.

With the victory over Cascade Christian, the Hilanders finished the season 15-1. Head Coach Paula Toney earned her seventh state title. This is the eighth state title for Hilander volleyball.