EUGENE — Crook County took two big, albeit shaky, steps toward its eighth consecutive state volleyball championship Friday.

The Cowgirls downed Ridgeview in the quarterfinal round, then beat Hidden Valley in a semifinal match to advance to the Class 4A final tonight at Lane Community College.

Rosie Honl, the veteran Crook County coach, said Friday night that she is pleased with the opportunity to play for yet another state title but added that her young squad will need to be better tonight if the Cowgirls are to bring home the 2013 championship trophy.

“It was not pretty today, not pretty at all,” said Honl. “Win or lose, if we play well, I feel good. But we did not play well today.

“The girls promised to bring their ‘A’ game tomorrow,” Honl added.

Top-seeded Cascade represents the final hurdle for Crook County. The Cougars from Turner defeated Philomath 3-1 in the quarterfinals and then swept Sisters in three games in the semifinals to reach the title match.

Crook County, the No. 2 seed, dropped the opening game in both of its Friday matches. Against Ridgeview, the Cowgirls won 19-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-6. In that contest, Aspen Christiansen was 16 of 19 serving and had 23 digs, and Jennifer Roth was 20 of 22 with seven aces along with six kills. Karlee Hollis was 14 of 17 serving with four aces, including a service run that brought Crook County from behind late in the third game.

Ridgeview was led by Katrina Johnson and Delaney Hampton, each of whom collected five kills. Katie Nurge racked up 17 digs (the Ravens totaled 43 digs as a team) to go along with a 12-of-12 serving clip and an ace. Collectively, Ridgeview connected on 73 of 75 serves, paced by Brianna Yeakey, who went 11 of 11 from the service line with three aces.

The Ravens take on La Grande this morning in a consolation matchup. A win there and another victory in at noon would earn Ridgeview the fourth-place trophy.

Hannah Troutman had 25 kills and 13 digs for the Cowgirls against Ridgeview. She also came up big in the semifinal win over Hidden Valley with 23 kills, 19 digs and a 14-of-15 serving performance.

Hollis was 26 for 28 serving with a dozen aces to go with 14 kills against Hidden Valley. Kathryn Kaonis had 10 kills, and Christiansen had 19 digs. For the day, Kayla Hamilton booked 50 assists and Abby Smith recorded 47.

Sisters advanced to the semifinals by ousting Banks in four sets, 25-11, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23.

Nila Lukens led the Outlaws in their match against the Lady Braves with 10 kills and four aces, and she was 24 for 25 on the service line. Allie Spear racked up 17 kills and 20 digs, Isabel Tara was the kill leader with 23 kills, Alex Hartford tallied 35 assists, and libero Savannah Spear had 18 digs.

The Sky-Em League champions fell to Cascade 25-20, 25-22, 25-8 in the semifinals and will play Hidden Valley for third place today at noon. Lukens was again the Outlaws’ leader in kills with 11 and Haylie Hudson dished out a team-high eight assists.

In other Friday action:

VOLLEYBALL

Bend will play for third: HILLSBORO — The No. 13 Lava Bears opened the Class 5A state tournament with a 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-21 upset win over No. 5 Wilsonville before falling to West Albany in four games in the semifinal round. The Bulldogs, who won the 2012 state title, topped Bend 25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 25-13. Cassidy Wheeler had 14 kills to pace the Bears against West Albany. Callie Kruska logged 12 kills, and Alisha Todd had 25 digs The Lava Bears will play for third place today at Liberty High School at 2:15 p.m. against Eugene’s Churchill High.

Carissa Scott led Bend in its early win with 12 kills and Wheeler added 11 kills to go along with six digs. Amanda Todd had 12 digs, seven kills and three aces and Tatiana Ensz was credited with five aces.

Culver stumbles in semifinals: REDMOND — The Bulldogs won their Class 2A state quarterfinal match over Oakridge in three sets, 25-14, 25-15, 25-9, but came up short against Days Creek in the semifinals, losing in three games.

“Days Creek came out on fire,” Bulldogs coach Randi Viggiano said after her team fell 25-22, 25-10, 25-16. “They played a heck of a match, and unfortunately it was when we played our worst.”

Culver faces Weston-McEwen for third place today at noon.

Shealene Little led the Bulldogs with 21 kills and 10 digs in their quarterfinal win. Gabrielle Alley added 12 kills, 18 digs and three aces.

Little managed 13 kills in the semifinal loss. Alley posted six kills and nine digs and Hannah Lewis dished out 23 assists in Culver’s second match of the day.

Saints fall in quarterfinals: REDMOND — Making its first state tournament appearance in school history, Trinity Lutheran lost its Class 1A state quarterfinal match at Ridgeview High School to Dufur 25-23, 11-25, 12-25, 15-25. “We came out and played the best we’ve ever played,” Saints coach Greg Clift said about his team’s first game. “And then Dufur woke up.” Emily Eidler led Trinity Lutheran with eight kills, Katie Murphy added seven kills and Mariah Murphy contributed six kills. The Saints, the No. 7 seed in the 1A bracket, play St. Paul today at 10 a.m. in the consolation bracket.