It has been a banner year for the Bend High Lava Bears volleyball team. They finished the 2014 season 14-6, with a 7-1 Intermountain Conference record that wrapped up the League Title.
That accomplishment in a talented IMC is merely the beginning for this Lava Bears squad that is still alive in the OSAA US Bank/Les Schwab Tires State Volleyball Playoffs, lead by IMC Player of the Year Callie Kruska, and two-time ‘Coach of the Year’ Kristin Cooper, who joined Play Action Sports Media at Sun Mountain Fun Center for the ‘Prep Spotlight’ show.
Catch the replay FREE on PlayActionSportsMedia.com.
Bend advanced in the playoffs with a 3-1 win against Hermiston last Saturday, to the semifinal round where they will collide with #7 Marist Catholic at Liberty High School. First serve at 10 AM.
“I think we did a really good job playing for each other,” said Callie Kruska. “We had a common goal when we looked across that net; We were like, ‘we deserve this, we deserve to win this.”
Bend dropped the first game 22-25, then rallied to win the next three 25-20, 25-15, and 25-12.
Kruska, the senior middle blocker who plans to attend Oregon State University after graduation, said that the Player of the Year honors were a great accomplishment for her.
“It’s a huge accomplishment; I’m very proud of it and very thankful,” said Kruska. “It was a goal I set as a sophomore to win some kind of title—maybe not that one, but it was a huge accomplishment. I owe my coaches and teams so much, it comes from them too; It’s not just me.”
If Bend can overcome Marist, they will meet the winner of Crater and La Salle Prep in the semifinals, putting them one step away from the championship game.
For Kristin Cooper, named the Coach of the Year this year and last year with a combined 27-17 record, as well as a third place finish in the state playoffs, a state championship would be a dream realized.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, it would mean a lot,” said Cooper. “Just to be in the state finals would be an accomplishment; If we could bring home the first place trophy, it would be amazing. A dream come true.”
Bend finished third in last year’s playoffs losing to Churchill 3-2. Last year’s champion West Albany is now a 6A team, so a new 5A Champion will be crowned at the tournament’s conclusion.
“(Cooper) is my favorite coach that I’ve ever had,” said Kruska of her coach. “She’s like a mother to me.”
I would like to clarify to the readers that Bend High were Co-IMC champs with Summit High school. Both schools ended up with 7-1 records in the IMC, having won head to head matches on their home courts. This isn’t the first media outlet to make such an error.