Grant Union Prospector Taylor Allen slams down a kill in the battle with Bonanza.

The Grant Union Prospectors are advancing to Friday’s quarterfinal round of the OSAA State Volleyball Championship where they will face the Coquille Red Devils at 3:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in Redmond.

The match will take place on court 2 at Ridgeview High School.

Grant Union, the defending state champions, swept the Bonanza Antlers Saturday, Oct. 27, in John Day, affording the Prospectors the opportunity to compete at the final 8.

Bonanza came to battle and gave Grant Union a tough showing in the second set, but the Prospectors kept their cool, winning with scores of 25-12, 25-22 and 25-16.

Leading the scoring for the Prospectors were: outside hitter Sydney Brockway with 10 kills, two aces and one block; outside hitter Kaylee Wright with 11 kills and one ace; setter Hailie Wright with nine kills and two aces; and middle blocker Trinity Hutchison with six kills and four blocks.

Grant Union head coach Ali Abrego said her team, which includes nine seniors, is a special group.

“You have so much talent, and you can only dress 12, but you can put anybody in at any time,” she said.

To start the match, Bonanza scored two, then Grant Union went to work.

Hailie Wright served and Hutchison had three blocks and two kills on the Prospectors’ way up to a 10-point lead.

Grant Union held a 20-5 lead at one point, and while Bonanza inched back up slightly, the Prospectors ended the first set with Taylor Allen slamming down a kill.

The Antlers stayed in front of Grant Union in the second set until a big spike from Hailie Wright tied the score 19-19.

The teams tied once more 20-20, then Kaylee Wright touched the ball over and Grant Union stayed ahead from there.

Later, an ace from Yui Asami put Grant Union ahead 24-22, then a Bonanza service error ended the set.

Abrego said a delay near the beginning of the set contributed to drop in tempo and intensity in the game.

“If you’re the team that’s behind, then it’s an opportunity to widen that gap,” she said. “I’m really glad that they were able to pull it out and win in three.”

Grant Union came out swinging in the third set, staying well ahead of Bonanza throughout.

Prospector McKeely Miller gave the final serve, and a net call on Bonanza ended the match.

Bonanza head coach Donna Romtvedt said playing in an unfamiliar court after a long bus ride was a challenge for her team.

“I think we did fight well,” she said. “I thought they came together really well and worked hard for that.”

Prospector Alcie Moore said Bonanza showed them what state would be like.

“It’s a lot more difficult than last year,” she said. “They put up a fight, and I think we’ll definitely have to keep working hard.”

Kaylee Wright added “It was a good win. We need to definitely work harder this next week going into the state tournament because we know we’re going to play a lot more teams that are really good, and we just have to be ready for it.”

Hailie Wright said she was pleased with how her team performed.

“It feels great to go back to the state tournament for four years in a row,” she said. “We need to keep working in the gym the rest of the week, so we can go back to state and play like we did last year.”

Miller said she is excited to compete in the state tournament.

“I hope we get the same results as last year,” she said.

Abrego said they are one step closer to where they want to be.

“Honestly, eight teams are done today, so we’re one of the elite that are left,” she said.

No. 8 Coquille made a comeback Friday, Oct. 27, to beat No. 10 Vernonia 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals with scores of 24-26, 16-25, 27-25, 25-16 and 15-8.

Grant Union has seen both teams play in the past, and defeated Vernonia earlier in the season.

Looking ahead, Abrego said the team will work on maintaining their composure and block and tip coverage.

She said they would also have to work on not allowing a team’s lead to get to them.

“If we’re looking to take home that blue trophy, we have to keep that tempo and gap on teams,” she said.