FOREST GROVE – A year ago, Jesuit finally got back on top of the 6A volleyball mountain after back-to-back runner-up finishes.
And the Crusaders intend to stay there.
Top-seeded Jesuit polished off a repeat state championship Saturday night with a 25-21, 25-16, 18-25, 25-15 win over No. 2 Oregon City in the final of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A tournament at Forest Grove High School.
It is the ninth title for the Crusaders – all since 2004 – tying them for the most all-time in Oregon with Gresham and Santiam Christian. And with much of the team's firepower eligible to return, the prospects for a 10th title in 2025 are promising.
“I said my freshman year that I wanted to get a stack of rings, and I fully intend to do that,” said 6-foot-3 junior Sadie Ross, who led Jesuit with 14 kills Saturday.
Juniors Jada Johnson and Iman Foster had 13 and nine kills, respectively. Senior Hayden McGehee had 19 assists, senior Jackie Carle had 17 assists, senior Addy Azavedo had 17 digs and junior Kiana Johnson served four aces.
The Crusaders (29-2) attacked in waves and wore down their opponents all season. They lost only four sets in Oregon, one each to Beaverton and Sheldon during the regular season and one apiece to Nelson and Oregon City in the state tournament.
“We have really solid passers and of course we have those hitters that are extremely talented athletes,” said Jesuit coach Teresa Zimmerlee, who won her ninth title in her 32nd season at the school. “They're hoppers. We have some kids that can really jump. We've had really good athletes before, maybe not quite as many on the same team.”
Oregon City (23-7), seeking its first title, lost to Jesuit in the final for the second year in a row. The Pioneers were hopeful to make up for last year, when they won the first two sets before the Crusaders rallied, but they could not match Jesuit's firepower.
“I think Jesuit is just a great team,” said Oregon City senior outside hitter Paige Thies, an Arizona commit. “We were just kind of playing on our toes a little bit, maybe a little afraid in the first two sets. Then in the third set, we were really fighting for it and really wanted it. But Jesuit kind of took it away. They're playing really amazing. They're really good. They really wanted it this game.”
Jesuit did a solid job of containing Thies, who had a team-high 17 kills in 56 attacks.
“She's a great player,” Jada Johnson said of Thies. “We knew we had to shut her down, get a block on her. … Basically, it was stop Paige.”
The Crusaders scored the first four points of the first set and never trailed to win 25-21. They were down 11-10 in the second set before outscoring the Pioneers 14-2 and winning 25-16.
Oregon City found some life in the third set behind Thies, sophomore middle blocker Addison Hopwood and some heady defense, opening a 15-8 lead and holding on to win 25-18. The shift in momentum hinted at a potential flip from last year's final.
“Another reason we took the third set is we were like, 'It's possible, don't give up, we can do this,'” Thies said. “That's what really gave us the power. We came out strong.”
It forced Jesuit to refocus.
“Honestly I said that I couldn't believe we walked in here and expected them to roll over,” Ross said. “I thought to myself … I knew they were going to win at least one set.”
Oregon City hung tough for a while in the fourth set, drawing even at 11-11 on a kill by Thies. But Jesuit dominated the rest of the way behind Jada Johnson, who had a massive block of Thies during the surge. Azavedo had an ace during a five-point serving run, and the Pioneers hurt themselves with a series of hitting errors.
The Crusaders seemed to lock in and execute during crucial moments in the match. They were steady on serve-receive and McGehee and Carle were on point with their sets.
“I thought our setters did a great job. They were really good,” Zimmerlee said.
Ross said that Jesuit “wanted it more.” Throughout the season, the Crusaders found a deep trust in one another.
“It was our teamwork and our sisterhood,” Ross said. “We care a lot about each other more than just teammates. We're best friends, most of us.”
Said Zimmerlee: “This group is really tight. They're like a family. There's no arguments, a lot of resilience, no drama.”
The chemistry allowed Jesuit to play loose all year.
“This year it was just, go out and play volleyball,” Ross said. “Our entire goal was just to come out and have fun. I know a lot of us wanted to do it for our seniors. They mean so much to us. A little part of me wanted to do it for myself.”
Nothing was going to hold Jesuit back, according to Jada Johnson.
“It was just, go after it, take it,” she said. “We knew we could go back-to-back, and we wanted to do whatever we could to make it that way.”
The title turned out to be the perfect birthday present for Jada Johnson, who was serenaded with the birthday song during the trophy celebration.
“I've been thinking about this ever since we started the season,” she said. “I knew it was on my birthday, and I was like, 'I know I'm going to bring home the win on my birthday.'”
To chase a three-peat next season, Jesuit must replace four seniors who are going on to college programs in Azavedo (Washington), Carle (Washington State), McGehee (Belmont) and Julia Paulson (Pacific beach volleyball).
