October 5, 2017

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

The McKenzie Varsity Volleyball team travels to Triangle Lake on Tuesday, October 3, for Mt. West League match starting at 7:00 pm. The Eagles host a MWL three-way match on Thursday, October 5. McKenzie plays Alsea at 4:00 pm and then plays Mohawk at 7:00 pm. Alsea and Mohawk will play the second match of the three-way, starting at 5:30 pm. The Eagle football team will have a bye this week, as Alsea has forfeited the remaining of its 2017 Football season.

Mohawk Mustangs Ride Herd Over Eagles, 80-36

The Mohawk Mustangs rode into town last Friday night, stirred up the locals by defeating the home Eagles at their 2017 Homecoming and rode back out of town with a 80-36 win notched on their schedule.

McKenzie put up a good fight, specifically in the first quarter, as the Eagles answered the Mustang challenge twice, scoring two touchdowns and trailing just 14-12. But that's when the Eagle wagon broke an axle and the Mustang's offense started to light things up. By the halftime Homecoming Activities, Mohawk had forged a formidable lead and in no mood for a round up.

With the loss the Eagles, at the end of the week, were 0-2 in the MWL play, 0-4-1 overall, and ranked 34th out of 35 Class 1A football teams. It must be said, however, that despite the lop-sided loss, McKenzie Head Football Coach Fred Heins’ team did not toss in the towel early; the Eagles played with heart and did not give up. That fact alone was a vast improvement and positive progress from earlier in the season. McKenzie stats were not available at press time.

Eagles Dig A Win Over Red Devils

It didn't start out easy, and it finished up easier. Last Tuesday, September 26, McKenzie lost the first set to visiting Lowell, 23-25, and any thoughts of an easy win against the Red Devils evaporated. But then, any such thoughts were probably hopeful anyhow. These two teams have a history of battling hard versus each other and finishing in the top of the Mt. West League.

With battle lines drawn, the second set mirrored the tenacity established in the inaugural encounter, this time McKenzie digging out the win, 26-24. And dig most certainly the Eagles did, literally. As a team, defensively, McKenzie's Mighty Mites, had a team collective 82 digs in the four set match. McKenzie went on to win the final two sets easier, 25-13 and 25-15. But Lowell forced McKenzie to bow their backs on their home court and win with some inspired defense and some hard-hitting offense.

Eagle Jade Hayes had a monster night on the court. The junior Outside Hitter led her team hitting with 22 kills and defensively with 26 digs. Hayes also added 1 ace, 1 assist, and 6 block assists, as well as handled 21 serve receptions with just 3 reception errors.

Teammate Kanyen Kamrath, playing the libero position, had 21 digs and an assist and handled 16 serve receptions with only 3 errors. Cassidy Campbell hit 8 kills, had 16 digs, served 2 aces, had 1 assist and had 13 serve receptions with only 3 errors. Danny Melcher added 9 kills, 10 block assists, 1 dig and 2 assists and Katrina Drummond had 5 kills and 6 block assists. Katelynn Caulley served 3 aces, had 7 digs and 16 assists while Anna McNutt hit a kill, had 5 digs, and 14 assists. Paige Lowry hit 1 kill, had 3 aces, 6 digs and 4 assists. Lola Seiler, Brook Caulley, and Sophia Brownlee all played.

Drummond earned her Coaches' Eagle Player of the Match distinction. Coaches comments were, "First Varsity start and through it took time for us to find her, she changes the game. She grew as an attacker, an enforcer, and an intimidator. So quick a learner."

Eagle Swell Swamps Lakers

The second match of the week for McKenzie against an old Mt. West League rival sailed a little smoother than the battle two days prior. This past Thursday, September 28, the Eagles defeated the visiting Triangle Lake Lakers is three sets, 25-13, 25-8, and 25-11.

McKenzie Head Coach Dan Brenner was able to play his bench and gain valuable varsity experience for all.

Jade Hayes continued her hard-hitting offensive efforts, recording 11 kills and she added a service ace and 3 digs. Danny Melcher had 6 kills, 2 solo blocks and 1 block assist. Kanyen Kamrath finished with 2 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs and 2 assists. Katelynn Caulley was superb from the service line, dealing 6 aces and adding 11 assists.

Caulley earned the McKenzie Player of the Match award from her coaches, the latter stating, "Our offense became dynamic when she served and dished the volleyball."

Chloe Erdahl hit 7 kills, served 2 aces, and defended with 7 digs. Anna McNutt had 1 dig and 11 assists, Cassidy Campbell had 6 kills and an ace, and Paige Lowry finished with 1 ace and 2 assists. Katie Meyer had 1 ace and 2 assists, Lola Seiler had a dig, Katrina Drummond finished with a kill, Paula McGlasson served 2 aces, Brook Caulley hit 1 kill and Sophia Brownlee served an ace.

Mt. West League Midway Standings

Halfway through the 2017 Mt. West League Volleyball season, the McKenzie Eagles are perched alone at the top with a perfect 7-0 MWL record. Mapleton is the lone MWL team yet to play the Eagles and the Sailors (0-6) have yet to win a match this season. At the end of last week, the Eagles posted a 12-3 overall record, having won 34 sets while losing 13 and were ranked 8th in the OSAA State 1A rankings.

Right behind McKenzie, however, are the Alsea Wolverines with a 6-1 MWL record and 8-2 overall. The Eagles and Wolverines tuned-up with a slugfest up at Alsea earlier in the season and McKenzie escaped with a 3-2 victory.

Siletz Valley is in third place at 5-2 MWL, 6-4 overall and Lowell is the only other MWL team with a winning record, 5-3 and 8-7. Mohawk follows in fifth place even up, at 4-4 and 6-10, and next are Eddyville Charter and Triangle Lake respectively, at 2-5, 3-6 and 2-6, 2-8. Oak Hill, 0-4, is the other MWL team without a match win this season.

The Mt. West Football League is divided into two Divisions, North and South. As of last week, and with four weeks left in the regular season, the standings are as follows. The North Division has Falls City unbeaten in League play, 2-0, 3-1 overall and ranked 14th. Mapleton follows at 1-0, 2-3 and Siletz is last in the Division at 0-2, 0-5. The South Division has Yoncalla and North Douglas tied at the top with identical 2-0, 3-2 records. Yoncalla is ranked 13th and North Douglas is currently ranked 16th. Mohawk is also undefeated in League play and trails a half game with a 1-0, 2-3 record. Lowell and McKenzie both bring up the rear at 0-2 in League. Lowell has posted a 2-3 overall record and the Eagles are 0-4-1.