East Oregonian
IONE — Three Ione Cardinals have a little extra hardware to tack on to an already award-packed volleyball season as half of the state champion’s starting lineup received all-state nods this week.
Senior outside hitters JoAnna Patton and Dominika Senkerikova were named to the 2011 Class 1A All-State first team this week, and senior setter Makenna Ramos nabbed a spot on the second team.
The Cardinals dominated the 1A ranks on their way to an undefeated 32-0 season mark and the school’s fourth state title. Ione defeated Powder Valley in a 3-2 battle — only its second match of the year to go to five sets — for the championship at Pacific University in Forest Grove on Nov. 12.
And now, two months after the fact, the recognition is still coming.
“It’s been exciting and neat to look back and see what we’ve really accomplished,” Ione coach Dawn Eynetich said.
Patton was the power guns of the Ione offense. She destroyed defenses for 406 kills while demoralizing offenses at the same time with 88 blocks. She had 30 kills in the finals match to help Ione pick up its first volleyball title in 12 years. She also chipped in with some above-average serving when her turn in the rotation came.
Senkerikova built her own impressive kill resumé with 275 kill points, but her real damage was done far from the front line. The Czech Republic native and one-year foreign exchange student drilled serves that dropped like a pitcher’s curveball and accounted for 127 aces.
The third Cardinal on the list, Ramos, played a big part in the championship match with 44 assists to help secure the undefeated season. Ramos was on the initial end of the majority of Patton’s and Senkerikova’s kills.
“I had this group starting out when they were sixth graders,” Eynetich said, “and it’s tough for me to see them go because this group is not only good on the court, but they’re such good people. To see what they’re going to accomplish next will be fun.”
Junior Jessica Pedro of Powder Valley (24-2) took home the player of the year honor for Class 1A while her coach, Lasa Baxter, shared the coach of the year award with Dufur’s Kelly Darden.
The only other Big Sky Conference representatives were also from Dufur (26-6) as senior Janelle Keever made the first-team list as a middle blocker. Sophomore Tenielle McDonald and freshman Taylor Darden were honorable mentions for the Rangers.