FOREST GROVE — If the motto for the Jesuit volleyball team last season was unfinished business, what was the theme during its run to a second straight OSAA Class 6A state championship? “Just go after it,” said senior Jada Johnson. “Just take it.” And that’s just what the Crusaders did — albeit with little of the drama that came with last year’s title.
They defeated Oregon City for the second year in a row in almost businesslike fashion Saturday night at Forest Grove High School, dispatching the Pioneers in four sets, 25-21, 25-16, 18-25, 25-15. “We knew we could go back-to-back and wanted to do whatever we could to make it that way,” said Johnson, a junior who had 12 kills and two blocks to celebrate her birthday in the best possible manner. “I’ve been thinking about this ever since the start of the season.
I knew this would be on my birthday, and I was like, I know I’m going to bring home the win on my birthday. Let’s do it.” Last year, Jesuit (29-2) had to rally from two sets down to defeat Oregon City to win its first title since 2019 and ninth overall under coach Teresa Zimmerlee after losing in the previous two finals.
So, after dominating the first two sets, it didn’t surprise the Crusaders when the Pioneers (23-7) came roaring back to win the third set, fighting tooth and nail to start the fourth. “We didn’t walk in here and expect them to roll over,” said junior Sadie Ross, who led the Crusaders with 15 kills and two blocks. “I .
