South Medford Wins State Volleyball Play-In Match
The Panthers swept Franklin to secure a spot in the Class 6A state volleyball tournament bracket.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Volleyball
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South Medford earned a trip to the Class 6A state playoffs after defeating Franklin in a straight-set victory. The team enters the tournament as the No. 24 seed following the play-in win.
Why it matters
Winning the play-in match allows South Medford to extend its season and compete in the state tournament bracket. The result establishes their matchup for the first round of the playoffs.
Julia Mitchell powered South Medford with 11 kills, 4 aces, and 3 digs, while Melissa Atonio contributed 19 assists and 9 digs. In the loss, North Medford was led by Cora Webber with 17 kills and Tatum Neff with 46 assists.
The players
South Medford
The Panthers are a high school volleyball team that has qualified for the Class 6A state playoffs.
Julia Mitchell
She is a key player for South Medford who recorded 11 kills and 4 aces in the decisive play-in match.
North Medford
The team fell to McNary in five sets and was eliminated from playoff contention.
McNary
This team secured the No. 23 seed in the state playoffs after defeating North Medford.
Cora Webber
She serves as an offensive leader for North Medford and posted 17 kills in her final match.
The details
South Medford claimed their victory with set scores of 25-16, 25-21, and 26-24. Meanwhile, North Medford fell to McNary in a competitive five-set match that ended with scores of 25-19, 25-22, 16-25, 21-25, and 15-13.
Timeline
South Medford and North Medford competed in play-in matches on October 24, 2026.
The first round of the state playoffs is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This win advances South Medford to the first round of the state playoffs where they will face South Eugene. The match result shifts the postseason landscape, confirming the seeding positions and matchups for the upcoming state tournament schedule.
South Medford secures the No. 24 seed, which dictates their away-game status for the upcoming first-round match against South Eugene. Similarly, McNary heads to Sheldon as the No. 23 seed for their tournament opener.
The takeaway
Advancing through the play-in round requires consistent execution, as demonstrated by the straight-set efficiency shown by South Medford. Teams must quickly shift their focus to tournament preparation to remain competitive in the opening round.
What happens next
South Medford will play at South Eugene, and McNary will play at Sheldon in the first round of the state playoffs on October 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on tournament brackets and match results, visit the Volleyball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rogue Valley Times.
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