Burns is off on another long road trip after earning a state shot. Photo by Brandon McMullen

There are 24 teams participating this weekend at three different sites in the 2021 OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union Volleyball State Championships. Below, we take a brief look at each of the championship hopefuls.

6A (Liberty HS, Hillsboro)

Bend

Current official record: 23-2

Tournament seed: 2

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 4

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 2017 (5A)

2021 spring record: 10-1

2019 state finish: lost second round (Sheldon)

Top three players to watch: Marley Hardgrave, 6-4 Sr. MB; Marin Montagne, 5-8 Sr. libero; Chloe LeLuge, 6-3 Soph. OH

Central Catholic

Current official record: 24-2

Tournament seed: 4

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 4

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-2

All-time state titles: 6

Last state title: 2016

2021 spring record: 11-2

2019 state finish: 2nd

Top three players to watch: Elliott Bush, 5-9 Sr. OH; Sofia Cooper, 5-11 Jr. MB; Renee Tassin, 5-3 Sr. libero

Jesuit

Current official record: 26-2

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-2

All-time state titles: 7

Last state title: 2019

2021 spring record: 14-0

2019 state finish: 1st

Top three players to watch: Tess Masingale, 6-3 Sr. MB; Maisie Alexander, 5-3 Sr. libero; Isabel Patterson, 5-10 Jr. OH

West Linn

Current official record: 26-2

Tournament seed: 1

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Fall record versus final four teams: 3-0

All-time state titles: 4

Last state title: 2007

2021 spring record: 11-1

2019 state finish: 5th

Top three players to watch: Emily Warmenhoven, 5-11 Sr. OH; Rayna Reynolds, 6-1 Sr. MB; Addie Hoover, 5-10 Jr. RS

Friday semifinals:

West Linn v. Central Catholic, 6:30 p.m.

Bend v. Jesuit, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 12:30 p.m.

Saturday championship match: 7 p.m.

Did you know?

When Jesuit won state in 2015, it capped a 38-0 season for the Crusaders. Jesuit, which also won the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona that year, finished No. 2 nationally according to PrepVolleyball.com…Central Catholic head coach Kayla Hambly, in her first full season as head coach after taking over for legendary Rick Lorenz (1,300+ wins), is the daughter of Jesuit Athletic Director Mike Hughes…Bend head coach Kristin Cooper played high school volleyball at legendary Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach, California. Cooper also was an assistant coach with the Mustangs when they won a national championship in 2006, the first of two in a row…West Linn’s last state title, in 2007, was a surprise, as the Lions did not win or finish second in any of the four regular-season tournaments in which they participated…

5A (Liberty HS, Hillsboro)

Crescent Valley

Current official record: 19-4

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: not ranked

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-2

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 2-9

2019 state finish: lost first round (Wilsonville)

Top three players to watch: Madison Heagney, 5-8 Sr. S/OH; Kam Mitchell, 5-10 Fr. S; Belle Jacobson, 5-9 Fr. OH

Ridgeview

Current official record: 16-4

Tournament seed: 4

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 1

Last state title: 2019

2021 spring record: 13-5

2019 state finish: 1st

Top three players to watch: Jenna Albrecht, 5-9 Sr. OH; Madie Vaughn, 5-8 Jr. OH; Kylee Rost, 5-4 Sr. libero

West Albany

Current official record: 24-3

Tournament seed: 1

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Fall record versus final four teams: 2-0

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 2013

2021 spring record: 10-1

2019 state finish: 5th

Top three players to watch: Hailey Heider, 5-11 Sr. OH; Maddy Hellem, 5-8 Sr. libero; Sydney Harrington, 5-10 Sr. S

Wilsonville

Current official record: 20-4

Tournament seed: 7

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 5

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-1

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 12-1

2019 state finish: 2nd

Top three players to watch: Ashli Edmiston, 5-9 Sr. OH; Tatum Lubisch, 5-11 Sr. MB; Makenna Wiepert, 5-11 Jr. S

Friday semifinals:

West Albany v. Ridgeview, 1:30 p.m.

Crescent Valley v. Wilsonville, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 10 a.m.

Saturday championship match: 4 p.m.

Did you know?

Six years after Ridgeview opened in 2012, it was state runner up in 5A. One year later, the Ravens, under the tutelage of Randi Viggiano, who coached Culver to 2A runner up finishes in 2015 and 2017, were state champions…Crescent Valley hasn’t won a league championship in volleyball since 1979, 42 years ago. The Raiders, with so many impact freshmen on their roster, should snap that streak next fall…Wilsonville is 7-2 versus 6A schools over the past two seasons. When the Wildcats lost to La Salle Prep the first week of September, it was only their second league loss over the past four years…West Albany has a stuffed Pusheen that a player received earlier this year from hospital staff after a medical procedure. The Pusheen, named “Paul,” is now part of the team and is bestowed by the previous recipient to a teammate that did something great (not skill related) after every match.

4A (Corvallis HS)

Cascade

Current official record: 20-4

Tournament seed: 2

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 10

Fall record versus final four teams: 2-2

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 5-5-1

2019 state finish: did not make playoffs

Top three players to watch: Lucretia Benolken, 5-9 Jr. OH; Meah Carley, 5-8 Jr. OH; Jadyn Daviscourt, 5-6 Soph. libero

Philomath

Current official record: 12-9

Tournament seed: 13

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: not ranked

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 7

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-3

All-time state titles: 1

Last state title: 1986 (AA)

2021 spring record: 1-5-1

2019 state finish: 3rd

Top three players to watch: Sage Kramer, 6-1 Sr. OH; Ashlynn Baron, 5-7 Sr. MB; Abigail Brown, 6-2 Jr. MB

Sisters

Current official record: 21-3

Tournament seed: 1

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 3-1

All-time state titles: 6

Last state title: 2017

2021 spring record: 12-3

2019 state finish: 4th

Top three players to watch: Gracie Vohs, 6-0 Soph. MB; Bre White, 5-11 Sr. OH; Sydney Myhre, 5-6 Sr. RS

Valley Catholic

Current official record: 19-4

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-1

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 2019

2021 spring record: 9-0

2019 state finish: 1st

Top three players to watch: Fran Eisenhardt, 5-7 Jr. OH; Kylee King, 5-4 Sr. libero/OH; Addie Emerson, 5-9 Fr. RS

Friday semifinals:

Sisters v. Philomath, 6:30 p.m.

Cascade v. Valley Catholic, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 12:30 p.m.

Saturday championship match: 7 p.m.

Did you know?

Valley Catholic is 11-2 since losing superstar OH Naima Foster to injury at the Sisters Tournament in mid-September. The two losses were to 6A teams…Cascade hitter Meah Carley was a freshman starter on the right side for the 29-1 Kennedy team that won the 2A title in 2019…Philomath was 7-9 before its current five-match winning streak…Sisters made the state tournament despite losing skywalking senior OH Greta Davis, a Sacramento State commit, to a season-ending leg injury incurred during a powder puff football game in mid-September.

3A (Corvallis HS)

Burns

Current official record: 27-3

Tournament seed: 2

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 2-0

All-time state titles: 7

Last state title: 2015 (2A)

2021 spring record: 15-1

2019 state finish: 6th

Top three players to watch: Kaitlyn Wright, 5-9 Sr. OH; Ashley Wright, 5-9 Soph. S; Mackenzie King, 6-1 Soph. MB

Catlin Gabel

Current official record: 19-3

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 7

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-1

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 10-3

2019 state finish: lost first round (Vale)

Top three players to watch: Elsa McDermott, 5-7 Jr. OH; Natalie Potter, 6-0 Sr. MB; Oci White, 6-0 Sr. S

Creswell

Current official record: 17-7

Tournament seed: 4

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: T-4

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 4

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-2

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 7-6

2019 state finish: 2nd

Top three players to watch: Emme Whitson, 5-7 Sr. OH; Lizabelle Osborn, 5-8 Soph. OH; Kimmy Kelsey, 5-10 Soph. S/RS

Sutherlin

Current official record: 20-5

Tournament seed: 8

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: T-4

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 5

Fall record versus final four teams: 2-2

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 9-5

2019 state finish: 4th

Top three players to watch: Makayla Murphy, 5-7 Jr. OH; Mallory Turner, 5-10 Sr. MB; Tianna Murphy, 5-2 Sr. S

Friday semifinals:

Creswell v. Sutherlin, 1:30 p.m.

Burns v. Catlin Gabel, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 10 a.m.

Saturday championship match: 4 p.m.

Did you know?

Catlin Gabel is in the first volleyball semifinal in school history despite playing all year without standout middle Sophie Scott. Scott, who will sign with Cal, injured a knee during the spring…Burns traveled 3200 miles during the regular season, including a weekday trip to Creswell that was 600 miles round trip. The Hilanders’ closest league opponent is 115 miles away…Sutherlin head coach Kathy Rice has not had to invoke a single “missed practice consequence” this season. “These girls have shown up and done the work all season!” she exclaimed…Creswell advanced past the first round of the state playoffs for the 12th time since 2006, all under longtime head coach Anna Baltrusch, who has more than 500 career wins.

2A (Ridgeview HS)

Gaston

Current official record: 20-1

Tournament seed: 2

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 5

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 11-2

2019 state finish: lost first round (Union)

Top three players to watch: Mackenzie Berger, 6-3 Sr. MB; Lexi Fern, 5-3 Soph. S; Maya Rosenberg, 5-7 Jr. OH

Grant Union

Current official record: 23-10

Tournament seed: 4

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 5

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 9

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 2017 (2A)

2021 spring record: 5-5

2019 state finish: 4th

Top three players to watch: Drewsey Williams, 5-10 Soph. MB; Lauryn Pettyjohn, 5-3 Sr. libero; Grace Taylor, 5-11 Sr. OH

Monroe

Current official record: 21-3

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-1

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 12-1

2019 state finish: lost first round (Grant Union)

Top three players to watch: Maddie Gamache, 5-6 Sr. OH; Bella Gamache, 5-11 Jr. OH; Sarah Thompson, 5-5 Jr. S

Salem Academy

Current official record: 25-2

Tournament seed: 1

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 4

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-0

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 1995 (2A)

2021 spring record: 9-3

2019 state finish: 3rd (3A)

Top three players to watch: Annabelle Brawley, 5-9 Sr. libero; Aly Herber, 6-1 Jr. MB; Bailey Pedersen, 5-7 Sr. S

Friday semifinals:

Salem Academy v. Grant Union, 6:30 p.m.

Gaston v. Monroe, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 12:30 p.m.

Saturday championship match: 7 p.m.

Did you know?

Gaston, which fell to Vernonia on Oct. 23, was the last team in Oregon to lose a match this fall. The Greyhounds, who last made the state tournament in 2017, returned every starter from last year’s team…Salem Academy has won 25 matches in a row. The Crusaders dropped their first two matches of the season to 3A schools, their classification until moving to 2A in 2020…Grant Union head coach Shanna Northway was an assistant when the Prospectors last won state in 2017…The Monroe coaching tree is a family affair. Head coach Angie Thompson and assistant coach Cassidy Thompson are mother and daughter. Assistant coaches Hailey and Kaitlyn Rictor are sisters and are Coach Thompson's nieces.

1A (Ridgeview HS)

Crane

Current official record: 19-10

Tournament seed: 9

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 10

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 5

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-1

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 10-1

2019 state finish: lost second round (Crosshill Christian)

Top three players to watch: Leslie Doman, 5-6 Jr. OH; Dani Clark, 5-4 Jr. RS; Kortney Doman, 5-8 Soph. MB

Damascus Christian

Current official record: 22-5

Tournament seed: 3

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 2

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 15-2

2019 state finish: 4th

Top three players to watch: Sierra Hale 5-6 Jr. S/OH; Julia Mitchell, 5-10 Jr. MB; Abbigayle Bailey, 5-10 Jr. OH/S

North Douglas

Current official record: 25-3

Tournament seed: 5

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 4

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 3

Fall record versus final four teams: 0-0

All-time state titles: 0

Last state title: none

2021 spring record: 13-2

2019 state finish: lost second round (Rogue Valley Adventist Academy)

Top three players to watch: Samantha McDowell, 5-8 Sr. S/OH; Halli Vaughn, 5-8 Sr. MB; Cydni Dill, 5-7 Sr. OH

St. Paul

Current official record: 29-4

Tournament seed: 1

Final OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Pre-season OSAAtoday coaches poll rank: 1

Fall record versus final four teams: 1-0

All-time state titles: 2

Last state title: 2019

2021 spring record: 13-5

2019 state finish: 1st

Top three players to watch: Ainsley Goughnour, 5-4 Sr. S/RS; Stella Koch, 5-10 Soph. MB; Annabelle Davidson, 5-10 Jr. MB

Friday semifinals:

North Douglas v. Crane, 1:30 p.m.

St. Paul v. Damascus Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday third-place match: 10 a.m.

Saturday championship match: 4 p.m.

Did you know?

Damascus Christian won the DCS Invite at the end of the spring season, defeating St. Paul in the final. That Eagle team featured senior Savannah Hale, three-time Valley 10 League MVP. This year’s MVP was Sierra Hale, her younger sister…St. Paul’s first match of the season is always against its alumnae. This year was the first time that the Buckaroos, with only one senior on their roster, lost the match…Crane’s players like to eat Hershey’s Hugs candy between sets and in time outs…Head coach Emily Reed has been coaching the majority of the North Douglas roster since the players were in sixth grade.