Summit Sweeps Churchill in 5A Playoff Opener
The No. 3 seed Summit Cowboys took down No. 14 Churchill 25-14, 25-19, 25-13 to advance to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Volleyball
Summit beat Churchill 3-0 in the first round of the Class 5A state volleyball playoffs, closing the third set on a 15-3 run after the score was tied 10-10. The win advances Summit to a quarterfinal Friday against No. 6 Crater.
Why it matters
The victory keeps Summit in contention for a deep run after finishing fourth at last year's state tournament. Oregon's 5A bracket is now set for quarterfinal matchups that will determine which teams reach Saturday's semifinals.
Summit's 15-3 closing run in the third set turned a 10-10 tie into a sweep, and the team has beaten Crater twice this season. Churchill, the No. 14 seed, lost all three sets to the No. 3 seed in a first-round matchup.
The players
Summit High School
Summit High School is a public school in Bend, Oregon, whose volleyball program has been a consistent presence in the Class 5A state tournament.
Churchill High School
Churchill High School is a public school in Eugene, Oregon, competing in the Class 5A state volleyball playoffs as the No. 14 seed.
Crater High School
Crater High School is a public school in Central Point, Oregon, and the No. 6 seed that Summit will face in the 5A quarterfinals.
The details
Summit's passing and communication improved during the third set, according to the report, after the score was tied 10-10. Bend, Sisters and Central Christian also advanced in the first round, with Bend sweeping No. 15 Centennial 3-0 and Sisters sweeping No. 13 Corbett 3-0.
Timeline
Last year: Summit finished fourth overall at the state tournament.
Friday at 1 p.m.: Summit plays No. 6 Crater in the 5A quarterfinals at Central High School in Independence.
Friday at 3 p.m.: Bend plays La Salle Prep in the quarterfinals.
Saturday evening: State semifinals are held at Central High School.
Season Trajectory
Summit's sweep keeps it on a path similar to its 2025 fourth-place finish at state, and a quarterfinal win over Crater would put it in the semifinals for the second straight season. The result also strengthens its standing in the 5A bracket against top-seeded programs.
Fans following the 5A bracket can track Friday's quarterfinal schedule, which includes Summit-Crater at 1 p.m. and Bend-La Salle Prep at 3 p.m. at Central High School. The Saturday semifinal matchups depend on how these Friday results fall.
The takeaway
Summit's 15-3 finish in the third set shows how a team can recover control in the middle of a match. Fans tracking the 5A bracket should watch Friday's quarterfinals, where several seeded teams face direct tests before Saturday's semifinals.
What happens next
Summit plays No. 6 Crater in the Class 5A quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Friday at Central High School in Independence, with the winner advancing to the state semifinals Saturday.
Further reading
For more state tournament coverage, see Volleyball on the Oregon section of the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bulletin.
