Newport’s Laura Luther tries for a kill over the outstretched arms of Central’s Linzi Wallace on Tuesday night. The Cubs lost for the first time in Val-Co League play, 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, 25-14. Luther unofficially had seven kills and two aces. (Photo by Jake Schubert)

From the start of Newport’s volleyball match with Central on Tuesday night, the Cubs seemed out of sync. It simply felt like something was off. The result was a 3-1 home loss, 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, 25-14, Newport’s first Val-Co League loss of the season.

Right out of the gate, the Cubs got behind 9-3 in game one. Andrea Mortenson and Linzi Wallace each had a kill for Central in that stretch.

Newport fought back with four straight points and eventually took a 14-13 lead, but they still didn’t appear to be clicking on all cylinders.

Central regained the lead on a pair of Newport errors, and as the struggles continued for the Cubs, the Panthers started to make plays.

Leading 22-20, Central got a kill from Shallyn Lewis and an ace from Mary Jo Pflaum for a 24-20 lead. Newport picked up the next two points, and Bre Berg got a kill for the Panthers, ending game one at 25-22.

The Cubs started game two well with four straight points, and they went on to an 11-3 lead. They had a lapse in the middle, a sign of things to come, as Central scored six in a row, four on kills, three from Mortenson and one from Aubree Lewis. Amber Blanton added an ace.

Newport recovered with their best stretch of the night, scoring 10 of the next 13 points, including five kills, two blocks, and one ace. Ciera Beckwith had kills and a block. Luther, Moore, and Silken Kennedy each had one kill, while Mandi Gates added the ace.

With a 21-12 lead, Newport gave Central four points on service errors, but the Panthers returned the favor with two service errors of their own, including one on game point as Newport won 25-17.

The Cubs got behind 4-1 in game three and never took the lead. Pflaum and Berg each had a kill for Central during their first four points.

The Panthers went on to an 8-3 lead with another kill from Berg and one from Mortenson. Newport pulled within two at 11-9 after a pair of aces by Luther. The Cubs stayed close with a Moore, kill making the score 14-12, but Central scored the next nine points, including two kills and a block by Berg. Mortenson ended the game with a kill as Central won 25-14.

The Panthers scored the first four points in game four with two aces from Bergenn Orin, and a kill by Lewis.

Newport ripped off eight of the next 10 points, including an ace from Karen Seifert, for an 8-6 lead. The Cubs went on to an 11-9 lead, but then Central found their form, scoring 16 of the final 19 points, 13 on kills. Lewis had six kills during the stretch, Pflaum added four, and Mortenson added two. Central won 25-14.

For the match, Lewis unofficially led Central with 10 kills, followed by nine for Mortenson, seven for Berg, and five for Pflaum. Orin had three aces.

Moore led the Cubs with 10 kills, while Luther added seven and two aces. Seifert and Gates each had two aces.

Newport played at Philomath on Thursday (results unknown as of press time). With a win, the Cubs would clinch first place in the Val-Co League. With a loss, Newport would face Central, should the Panthers win at Taft on Thursday. They would play on a neutral court in a tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed at state, and the Cubs and Panthers would share the league title.



Jake Schubert is the sports reporter for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 221, or sports@newportnewstimes.com.



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