Cowgirls lose to West Linn in tourney’s third-place match

Published 4:00 am Sunday, November 7, 2004

Bulletin staff report

PORTLAND – Crook County’s impressive run at the Class 4A state championship volleyball tournament came to end Saturday night as the Cowgirls finished in fifth place after falling to West Linn 25-15, 25-9.

Crook County, which went 3-0 in pool play competition Friday to reach the elite eight, won its championship semifinal match Saturday morning 25-12, 25-23 over Lakeridge of Lake Oswego.

The Cowgirls then dropped a 25-12, 25-14 decision to Central Catholic of Portland in the afternoon championship semifinals, putting Crook County in the third-place match against the top-ranked Lions.

”The girls just played great,” said Cowgirls coach Rosie Honl. ”I was totally impressed; they fought to the end.”

Crook County’s fifth-place trophy is the first ever won by the Cowgirls at the 4A championship tournament.

Saturday night’s match was played at the University of Portland Chiles Center before a crowd of 1,787.

”They had everyone in the Chiles Center cheering for them,” Honl added.

Crook County senior Rhea Wortman was named to the all-tournament first team, and junior Kimber Duncan was selected to the all-tournament second team.

Jesuit defeated Central Catholic 25-20, 25-19 in the championship match at the 16-team tournament. Gresham beat Roseburg 25-18, 25-23 for fourth place.

Crook County entered the tournament as the unbeaten Intermountain Conference champion.