Spartan Power, Spartan Pride

On a cold, wet and dark Oregon Coast night, it was the perfect sports setup as the 2008 Oregon Volleyball State Championship Tournament began: Marist vs. Siuslaw. Siuslaw was a league champion, first seeded team, playing on their home court with a large and very loud home crowd. The Marist Spartans were a second seeded team.. the underdog, with less fans. One of their key players and hardest hitters had broken her ankle in practice just one week earlier, filling the players with doubts as to if they could continue to win without her on the court. One team wins and gets to move on to the final State tournament for the top 8 teams, one team goes home with their season finished.

On everone's mind was the year previous, when they had been in the exact same spot: on the road in the first round of the state tournament, but falling short, ending their chance with a tough loss. No one wanted to feel that way, to end the season there.

In game 1, Marist was warmed up, on fire, ready to take on their opponent. With the momentum in their favor, they beat Siuslaw, proving they could stay with the tough teams, injuries notwithstanding.

But in games 2 and 3, Siuslaw prevailed, taking over and stealing that momentum. It quickly entered everyone's mind that one more loss and the season was over.

But this is where the Marist Spartan pride took over. They never felt defeated, they knew this was their game, their night. Winning game 4 forced a game 5. One final quick game to 15, both teams now even, both playing at the same level.

And at last, the Spartans proved to their fans, their parents and themselves that when they never give up, they can succeed, winning game 5, and not ending their season. We all knew it was going to be tough, to go to a higher seeded team's gym, to play on their court, with their fans, as the underdog, without our top hitter, but they never gave up and ended the evening victorious.

From my point of view, I think my hair went several shades grayer, watching us lose games 2 and 3, watching that momentum shift away from us and feeling helpless to do anything. But what a night of pride, to see these girls come out of it and never give in. What an awesome victory, what an awesome team, and I count my blessings that I have the unique opportunity to be part of the program, to know the team and to be able to capture the moment for these girls, on film. It was one of those nights that makes a sports documentary filmmaker proud, to capture that emotion and the triumph so they can never forget what it felt like that night. Not that they'll be forgetting anytime soon. Having just finished filming my post game player interviews, everyone on the team talked about the game being a highlight of both the season, and in many cases their volleyball career so far at Marist. So Saturday night will be a VERY long remembered night for this team.

Now... On to the Big Show... Time to take the momentum from last weekend's game into this weekends even tougher run for the state title.

Go Spartans!