The Grant High School girls volleyball continues to roll in 2024 with another sweep of visiting Ida B. Wells on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The Generals came out the gates of each set firing, taking big early leads that they never gave up in each of the three frames, winning the match 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.
Each set had a different set of fingerprints on it thanks to the deep squad Grant has assembled this season, starting with senior Cecily Wagstaff.
The opposite hitter put up three of her eight total kills on the night in the first set, along with a massive block that stopped the momentum the Guardians had built to cut their deficit to 23-20.
Wagstaff, a returning All-PIL first-teamer, currently leads the Generals in kills this season and provides enough energy to sustain a city block.
“Cecily definitely brings it, she’s really good at lifting us up and getting us excited and just getting really into it,” Grant senior An Roesinger said. “I think it helps a lot of people stay focused and obviously that’s essential for a good game.”
Set No. 2 belonged to a freshman starter in Osa Olsgaard as she helped on two blocks and put away three of her five kills to keep the same pace Grant had in the first set.
And in the third, it was back to the seniors with senior setter/outside hitter Maggie McCarthy providing the early firepower at the net.
“They started off really well tonight, it’s kind of been our focus to start off strong and consistently stay strong throughout the set,” Grant head coach Erin Cole said. “We sometimes have our little lulls in the set, so we’re really trying to focus on playing hard all the way through.”
On a team with nine seniors, the depth and experience was evident against a younger Wells squad, and it’s apparent all season as the Generals continue to climb the OSAA rankings.
“It’s so exciting, it’s so much fun to be on the court with those girls, especially if we’re on a roll and it keeps building on each other,” Wagstaff said. “There’s a lot of leadership on our team and just a lot of people to be able to look up to, so I think that helps the younger girls to feel confident on the court and the new people to feel comfortable as well.
“There’s a lot of just stable rocks in our system.”
Another one of those rocks is Roesinger, who finished the night with six kills and two blocks and swung a very efficient .625 hitting percentage to get Grant out jams whenever it needed her.
McCarthy led the team with 16 assists and also had 10 digs to go along with her three kills. Olsgaard had 12 digs and five kills along with her one total block.
The loss for the Guardians sends them to 2-2 in PIL play and 7-11 on the season, currently sitting right on the bubble for the postseason as the No. 32 ranked squad in the OSAA rankings. They play at home against Franklin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 next.
The win keeps Grant atop the PIL standings at 3-0 in league play, tied with Cleveland who’s also at 3-0.The Generals hit the road to play Benson at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9.
“Full steam ahead, going for it every single point and just making sure we’re pushing to the end,” Wagstaff said of what she wants to see the rest of the month. “That’s really what’s going to set us apart from these other teams is our high energy on the court and keeping that rolling every single point.”
PIL standings
T1. Grant, 3-0, 17-4 overall
T1. Cleveland, 3-0, 8-7
3. McDaniel, 3-1, 11-6
4. Lincoln, 3-1, 8-8
5. Ida B. Wells, 2-2, 7-11
6. Jefferson, 1-2, 3-12
7. Franklin, 1-3, 6-9
T8. Roosevelt, 0-4, 2-11
T8. Benson, 0-3, 0-11
Mt. Hood standings
1. Nelson, 10-0, 17-2 overall
2. Central Catholic, 8-2, 14-4
3. Barlow, 7-3, 12-5
4. Clackamas, 6-4, 8-6
5. Sandy, 5-5, 12-8
6. Gresham, 3-7, 11-10
7. David Douglas, 1-9, 1-11
8. Reynolds, 0-10, 2-16
Three Rivers League
1. Oregon City, 8-0, 14-5 overall
2. West Linn, 5-2, 8-5
3. St. Mary’s Academy, 4-4, 10-10
4. Lakeridge, 4-4, 8-5
5. Tigard, 3-4, 10-7
6. Lake Oswego, 3-5, 7-7
7. Tualatin, 0-8, 5-12
2A Northwest League
1. Portland Christian, 10-0, 13-1 overall
2. Clatskanie, 8-1, 14-2
3. Nestucca, 6-4, 8-10
4. Vernonia, 6-4, 7-8
5. Gaston, 5-4, 5-7
6. Faith Bible, 2-8, 6-9
7. Knappa, 2-8, 2-12
8. Columbia Christian, 0-10, 0-13
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