#UmpquaPreps: UVC volleyball earns best finish at state tournament

LA GRANDE — The Umpqua Valley Christian volleyball team defeated Central Christian in the third place match at the Class 1A state championship tournament on Saturday to claim the best finish in program history.

The No. 4-seed Monarchs (25-4) beat the No. 3 Tigers (25-7) in four set. Scores were 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-17.

Meagan Hellenthal had 18 kills and 13 digs for UVC. Avery Renyer had 35 assists and 12 digs, freshman Julia Johnson contributed 12 kills and 11 digs, Ali Saylor made 11 digs, and Bailey Pappas chipped in five blocks and four kills.

The victory snapped a streak of losses in the third place match for the Monarchs. Umpqua Valley Christian had reached the third place match in each of the last two seasons, but ended the year with a loss and a fifth place finish in the state tournament.

Hellenthal, a junior, earned all-tournament second team honors for a second consecutive season.