The Wilson Trojans entered the volleyball season eager to break new ground.
Runner-up to Lincoln in the 6A Portland Interscholastic League the last three years, the Trojans sought their first league title since 2015. They also aspired to win a state playoff match for the first time since 1999, ending a streak of 13 consecutive postseason defeats.
Heading into the home stretch, Wilson is in prime position. The Trojans (19-4, 13-0) hold a two-game lead over Grant (14-6, 11-2) in the PIL, and at 10th in the OSAA 6A power rankings, they appear ready to play their first home playoff match since 2001.
“The teams we’ll potentially face, we’ve played and beaten, so we’re looking to win that,” third-year coach Mark Mendak said.
Wilson got a big shot of confidence in the first week of the season when it went on the road for a 3-1 win over Lincoln (12-5, 10-3), ending the Cardinals’ 40-match PIL winning streak.
“Playing them there, that was a big deal,” Mendak said. “It kind of set the tempo for the rest of the way. We had to beat the best, and in our view, Lincoln was the best.”
The Trojans also defeated Lincoln 3-0 at home Oct. 3. Their only setbacks this season are two tournament losses to 4A No. 2 Valley Catholic and single tournament defeats to two 6A schools, No. 3 Mountainside and Mountain View.
They were competitive against Mountainside, losing 25-15, 26-24 in the final of a tournament at Westview on Sept. 28.
“That was some of the best ball we’ve played, just for them to be attentive and focused,” Mendak said. “They all said that was the most fun they’ve had. Being able to tell them, ‘There’s a correlation, you’re having fun, you’re paying attention and you’re playing some of the best ball you’ve played.’”
The Trojans have a connection that goes back to when Mendak coached many of them as freshman on the JV team in 2016. Mendak took over as the varsity coach in 2017 and the chemistry has continued to develop.
“I tell them that practice is cancelled and they get on me, so I can’t cancel practice these days,” Mendak said. “Just that attitude and willingness to get better, that’s kind of been contagious.
“As sophomores and juniors on varsity, they were kind of the younger bucks, and they saw how some senior leadership was lacking, and I think they learned from that. They’ve been leading by example. It’s pretty cool to see.”
Wilson has a fourth-year starter in middle hitter Hannah Romeis, who is undersized at 5-foot-5 but makes up for it with quickness and court savvy. Kennedy Stahr, a 5-8 senior outside hitter, leads the team in kills and is a candidate for PIL player of the year, according to Mendak. Rianna Bowers, a 5-7 senior middle blocker, leads the team in blocks.
The lineup also features senior outside hitter Kaija Shreeve (second in kills, first in aces), senior defensive specialist/outside hitter Bryanna Weber, sophomore libero Avery Fraser and junior setter Malia Patrick.
The 5-10 Patrick runs the 5-1 attack.
“Last year, with the seniors I had, I kind of sprinkled her in because she was still kind of young,” Mendak said. “But this year, it’s been her show, and next year it will be, too.”
Wilson plays three more league matches before facing Valley Catholic again in an endowment contest that Mendak scheduled “to get us ready for the playoffs.” The Trojans have lost in the first round five consecutive seasons, but are hopeful to make a run at their first state tournament appearance since 1999, when they reached the quarterfinals.
“Everybody saw how McMinnville beat Jesuit, and we beat McMinnville,” Mendak said. “Anybody can beat anybody. It’s a confidence thing.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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