FOREST GROVE – Up until this year, South Albany was known on the state volleyball map primarily as the site of the annual State Preview Tournament.
Saturday night, the RedHawks put themselves on the map as state champions.
Top-seeded South Albany punctuated a 27-0 season by defeating two-time reigning state champion Crescent Valley 25-4, 25-18, 25-19 in the final of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 5A tournament at Forest Grove High School. It's not only the the RedHawks' first volleyball title, but also the first state championship in any sport at the school, which opened in 1971.
“It means so much,” said coach Kaela Wehrman, a 2013 South Albany graduate. “South Albany runs deep in my veins. It's a community that I feel has kind of been in the shadows for a really long time.”
The season was a breakthrough on many levels for the RedHawks. They won their first league title in 32 years and finished first in the State Preview for the first time in the tournament's 35-year history.
They did it with total dominance, not dropping a single set to a 5A opponent all season. The only two sets they lost were to 6A finalist Oregon City and 6A Sheldon.
“It was definitely a cool flex,” junior outside hitter Taylor Donaldson said of sweeping 5A in 2024. “But we would've taken any win.”
South Albany had swept Crescent Valley 3-0 in both Mid-Willamette Conference matches this season, but the RedHawks knew they couldn't afford to take the second-seeded Raiders (26-4) for granted. The RedHawks came out and seized control in the first set, scoring the first four points and never looking back.
“We didn't feel that nervous coming in,” Donaldson said. “We've played CV and we knew what to expect. I think we were more nervous for our first round. We hadn't won a first-round game yet. This game, coming in and seeing all our fans in the stands, we just felt comfortable and ready.”
South Albany, a quarterfinalist the last two years, got a boost this season with the addition of senior middle blocker Taelyn Bentley, a transfer from Crescent Valley, where she helped lead the Raiders to their first state titles.
Bentley helped show the way Saturday with a team-high 12 kills, four block assists and five digs. Donaldson had eight kills and seven digs, sophomore Audrey Webb had eight kills and senior Klaire Bitter had 26 assists and six digs.
Bentley did more than provide punch on the court, she helped push the team to “dream big,” according to Wehrman.
“What she brought more to us is she showed them what was possible,” Wehrman said. “They've always had this little bit of doubt that I've been trying to get them to shake.”
Donaldson said of Bentley: “She's a competitor, and we're competitors here at South, and she just fit right in. … She just brings positive energy everywhere she goes. It's been really fun to play with her.”
Bentley said she made the move to be with friends and the RedHawks ended up being “insanely competitive.” She said the season became “one of the best experiences of my entire life.”
“It's something you only ever dream of,” Bentley said. “Within this group, when I first walked in the gym, we were lining up our goals, that was the first thing I said, undefeated state champs is what we could be. And here we are.”
The title completed an unconventional three-peat for Bentley.
“I told people last year that I was going for a three-peat, and I guess I meant it,” she said. “But to do it with this group of girls, at a school that I love so much, with people that I will never, ever lose, it's amazing. And do to it for the first state championship at South for any sport, it's just so special and something I'll hold in my heart forever.”
The RedHawks drew inspiration from their boisterous student section, which showed up in force at the tournament.
“They're amazing. They've been with us since Day 1,” Donaldson said. “Even my freshman year, we didn't make it this far, they were just as loud.”
Considering the adversity that Crescent Valley faced this season, reaching the final was an achievement in itself. Bentley transferred, coach Troy Shorey left to coach at Lower Columbia College and two key seniors – outside hitter Bella Jacobson and defensive specialist Vivian Buford – were lost to ACL injuries.
University of Oregon-bound senior setter Kamden Mitchell helped propel a young group to a runner-up finish. Mitchell, who had 18 assists Satuday, reflected on the end of her high school career.
“It makes me very sad, but I'm really happy and proud to go out as a Raider,” Mitchell said. “I could not be happier with my team and how much of a family that we are.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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