Sports

Keizer athletes place second at national tourney

(From left to right) Emily Blagg. Madison Corpe, Isabella Rodriguez and Talia Medlin smile for the camera after helping their team take second at a national volleyball tourney in Missouri. (Submitted)

The North Pacific Juniors (NPJ) 14U Salem National club volleyball team got the opportunity to compete at the Triple Crown Volleyball Tournament in Kansas City, MO., on Feb. 16-18.

The team features four Keizer residents — Emily Blagg, Madison Corpe, Isabella Rodriguez and Talia Medlin.

Blagg, Corpe and Rodriguez are eighth graders at Whiteaker Middle School while Medlin attends Clagget Creek Middle School.

All four girls plan on playing volleyball at McNary High School next season.

The team took second place in the tournament’s open division and finished the weekend with a record of 7-2.

Michael Seemann, who is the head volleyball coach at Portland State University, is in charge of the program.

“(I’m) very pleased with our performance at our first National Tournament,” Seemann said. “Great competition exposed our weaknesses and highlighted where we needed to improve. We are only beginning to see our potential.”

NPJ will be having car wash fundraisers at the Dayspring Church parking lot (1755 Lockhaven Dr.) on March 9 and March 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The money raised will go towards helping the team fund planned trips to Orlando, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev., and Indianapolis, Ind.

If you cannot attend the car wash but still wish to donate, contact Tracie Corpe at [email protected].

You can also follow the team on their YouTube channel “fam2share” to watch promos and live games.