DN VB squad has strong finish at Ore. tournament

Win consolation bracket after going 1-5 in pool play

After a poor start, the Del Norte Warriors varsity volleyball team came on strong at a tournament at Marshfield High in Coos Bay, Ore., on Saturday.

Del Norte won the consolation bracket by going 3-0 after struggling in pool play with a disappointing 1-5 mark.

“I was certainly excited,” head coach Roybn Parker said. “It was a night and day difference” between pool play and the consolation bracket. “It was like a different team out there.”

The Warriors were without senior Keirystyn Anderson, who is a team leader and is tops on the squad in kills. She had some neck issues but is expected to back for tonight’s game at Eureka, Parker said.

In pool play Del Norte struggled mightily and could not seem to play together as a unit, Parker said

She admitted that she was not too pleased with her players and told them before the consolation bracket began that they had to step their game up.

“I was telling them they could do this,” she said.

The pep talk seemed to work.

Against Crater, the Warriors won 17-25, 25-20, 15-11.

Morgan Laney had seven kills and Shauna Ratnour had four kills and two digs.

Chandler Davis had five digs and four aces.

In the next match, Del Norte downed Bandon 25-10, 25-15.

Laney had 13 kills and four aces.

Shauna Ratnour had six digs. Davis had four digs and Kylee Bruder had three digs.

Against Gold Beach, Del Norte also won in two sets.

Ratnour led Del Norte with six kills. Ayashe Padon and Laney each had five kills.

Davis had four digs and three aces. Brittany Maready had four digs and Bruder had two aces, two kills and four blocks. Blaire Lopez had three aces.

Parker commended the entire team for the way it played. She was impressed with the way Ratnour, who replaced Anderson in the lineup, came off the bench and was a key contributor.

Del Norte resumes Big 5 Conference play tonight against Eureka on the road. The junior varsity game begins at 5:30 p.m. with varsity to follow.

On Thursday, Del Norte hosts Fortuna in the final home game of the year. Del Norte is 13-14-1 overall and 2-3 in conference play.