The Hood River Valley High School (HRV) Girls Water Polo team concluded their challenging and successful season by securing 4th place at the Oregon State Championship tournament this past weekend at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.

The finish is a notable achievement for the team, which entered a rebuilding year after graduating key players from last year's three-time state championship squad. The Eagles played an exceptionally difficult schedule, regularly competing against top 6A programs to maintain game shape and hone skills, a necessary approach given the geographic spread of 5A teams.

HRV finished 3rd in the 5A Central League and entered the postseason ranked 4th. A crucial home playoff victory over #5 Ashland propelled the team into the state tournament. They also earned a 4th-place finish in the 6A Mt. Hood Conference regular season schedule.

Their state tournament began Friday night with a demanding matchup against the #1-ranked Summit team. Displaying significant improvement, the HRV defense held Summit to a 10-4 final score, a dramatic change from their 19-goal differential loss just a month prior.

"The results really speak for themselves as it shows how dramatically the team has improved even in the last month," said the HRV Coach Kellie Dunn. "Our defense looked so strong, and they really worked as a team to stop the unrelenting attack that Summit is known for. I am so proud of the fight they put up against the team that went on to win the championship."

On Saturday, the Eagles faced #2 Bend after Bend suffered an upset in the semi-finals. Despite a solid effort, HRV struggled to find its offensive rhythm and ultimately fell to a motivated Bend squad.

"It's always hard to end the season on a loss, but we are keeping this in perspective of how far this team came this season and still feel good about where we landed," Coach Dunn added. "We made a goal to get into the state tournament, and they did that."

The team’s success was anchored by a group of five seniors, who provided invaluable leadership, maturity, and knowledge gained from their three consecutive state titles.

"It's hard to end your senior season in 4th after 3 state titles, but they put so much of their hearts and souls into our program, and I know they have left their mark," Coach Dunn stated.

With only five seniors graduating and one junior, the Hood River Valley squad is young and poised for future success. The returning players are highly motivated to pursue the state title in 2026.

"Our younger players brought that energy into the games too," Coach Dunn noted. "With a very young squad, they really are going to be a serious force in Oregon water polo for the next few years."

Athlete Honors and Tournament Statistics

All-State Awards

• 1st Team: Nyxey Heredia Merida
• 2nd Team: Layla Williams
• Honorable Mention: Goalie Abby Piatt

6A Mt. Hood League Awards

• 1st Team: Nyxey Heredia Merida
• 2nd Team: Layla Williams
• Honorable Mention: Sophie Helleberg, Delaney Hackett, Goalie Abby Piatt

State Tournament Scoring Summary