Formula Works Against Knight Volleyballers
East Valley’s volleyball team had been to state for two successive years.
This year’s team may have been its best, yet the season ended a week before the State 3A tournament.
With good reason, it turned out.
Mid-Valley school Ellensburg, which prevented the Knights from making their third straight state appearance, last weekend finished second at state. The team lost to fellow Mid-Valley member Selah in the 3A finals.
During previous years, East Valley had reached state by winning the Frontier League district title. They won district again this season.
Because the league was reduced to four teams, both the Mid-Valley and Frontier agreed to a regional format similar to that between the Greater Spokane and Big Nine leagues.
It turned out to be a disadvantage, something coach Jim Dorr feared might be the case. Selah won it, Ellensburg beat EV twice for second place. The Knights stayed home.
Dorr endorses the regional concept.
“If a GSL team comes out of its regional, you know it’ll be in the final eight,” he said last week.
His concern is the way tournament berths are allotted. The Opstad Formula, using school enrollment as a criteria, determines how many teams a league gets to state, regardless of capability.
“They have to make state the key tournament of the year. Right now it isn’t. The best teams don’t go,” Dorr said. “The Opstad Formula is outdated. Basically they’ve turned it into a west side state tournament.”
East side teams, however, brought home the hardware.
Knight soccer season ends
East Valley battled unbeaten West Valley-Yakima to a first-half standoff, but ultimately lost 2-0 in the State 3A soccer quarterfinals.
Neither team scored until the visiting Rams tallied 51 minutes into the 80-minute game. They took 13 shots on goal, Knight keeper Anita Heaton with six saves.
EV managed just six shots. None found their mark.
Roller hockey playoffs
The Yellow Subs enter the Valley Sports Arena adult fall roller hockey league playoffs following a perfect regular season.
The Subs compiled a 5-0 record, two games ahead of Mully’s Rocket Hut, Bruchi’s and Trent-n-Dale.
Todd Holman scored 24 goals for the regular season champs, well ahead of teammate Rich Boettcher, who was second in scoring with 11.
Round robin playoffs begin tonight and continue through Dec. 18.
Winter season begins Jan. 19 for adults and Jan. 20 for youth teams. Signup begins Dec. 6.
For information call 927-2255.
, DataTimes