HEPPNER, Ore.-The Heppner Volleyball team will take on Delphian in the 2A State Tournament Quarterfinals at Eastern Oregon University on November 7.
Heppner had a dominant 23-7 overall record this season, going 9-2 in league play and finishing second in the 2A Blue Mountain Conference.
“Even with the losses we took, we battled each set and never rolled over, and that right there is success,” said Heppner Head Coach Mindy Wilson. “In previous seasons, we would get a few points down and give up, but this team battled and will battle to the very end.”
Heppner’s only two league losses came against Weston-McEwen, and the Mustangs punched their ticket to the state quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Culver on November 1.
While the Heppner roster has seven juniors and a senior on it, the Mustangs only had three returning starters this season, something that hasn’t held the team back.
“There was no established leadership presence,” said Wilson. “Our players have all come together and built an environment they all want to be a part of and developed a culture where everyone can be a leader, not just upperclassmen.”
If Heppner gets past Delphian (20-4 in the 2A-2 Tri-River Conference) in the Quarterfinals, a semifinal matchup with Weston-McEwen, a familiar foe, could be lurking.
While it’s important to take things one game at a time at state, focusing on fundamentals, the possibility of playing the TigerScots for a fourth time this year (Heppner beat Weston-McEwen in September) is not lost on Coach Wilson and the Mustangs.
“I think as we prepare for Delphian, we are also preparing for the possibility of meeting Weston-McEwen again,” said Coach Wilson. “This is a tight-knit group, these girls have shown that success can be earned when we work as a team and support our teammates.”
As it prepares for its quarterfinal matchup, Heppner is three games away from a state volleyball title, a feat that would mean a lot for the team and the community.
“The Heppner community is very supportive of all youth activities,” said Coach Wilson. “It would be great to bring them back a title.”
Tickets for the Heppner Mustangs and Delphian Dragons quarterfinal matchup at Eastern Oregon University on November 7 are on sale now and cost $10 for adults and $6 for students.
