“Do it for Soph.” Those four words have become the rallying cry for the Estacada High School volleyball team as they return to the court following the tragic death of senior teammate Sophia Montez on September 24.
A Team in Mourning
In the days following Montez’s death, head coach Susan Doan and her staff suspended all team activities for 10 days, canceling two away games to give players time to grieve and support one another. “We spent a lot of that time together,” Doan said. “The parents have been wonderful, opening their homes and hosting team dinners. It’s been really hard, especially being back on this court.”
When the Rangers finally returned home on October 7, emotions ran high. Facing Molalla in their first home game since the tragedy, the team and community came together to honor Montez’s memory.
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‘Do It for Soph’ Night
Before the match, players from both teams gathered in a circle at midcourt to share a prayer. The Estacada players wore pink shirts — Montez’s favorite color — printed with the phrase “Do it for Soph.” Fans packed the stands, many also wearing pink in her honor.
After the game, the Rangers signed a volleyball to present to Montez’s family as a gesture of remembrance and unity. “A big part of this sport is teaching them to be a team,” Doan said. “That closeness makes this so hard, but it’s also what’s helping us heal.”
Rangers Claim Victory
In an emotional sweep, Estacada defeated Molalla 3-0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-13) in the Tri-Valley Conference matchup.
Game highlights for Estacada (12-2, 3-1 league):
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Kenzie Stubblefield, freshman middle blocker – 11 kills, 4 aces
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Peyton DeWhitt, junior outside hitter – 9 kills, 4 aces
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Lilly Bradshaw, sophomore defensive specialist – 6 kills, 2 aces
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Ella Rozema, junior opposite – 2 kills, 1 ace
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Ella Sandell, freshman middle blocker – 2 kills, 1 block
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Payton Lee, junior libero – 1 kill, 2 aces
For Molalla (4-9, 1-4 league):
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Emma Reiman, junior middle blocker – 3 kills, 2 aces
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Gracie Fisher, junior outside hitter – 3 kills
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Makayla Gervais, junior middle blocker – 2 kills
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Cadence Holmes, junior libero – 2 aces
Reset and Resilience
Before Montez’s passing, Estacada had been enjoying an undefeated 10-0 run, including a historic win in Oregon’s first-ever varsity outdoor volleyball game and a flawless sweep of their home-hosted tournament.
The tragedy briefly halted their momentum, but the team showed strength in returning to play. Their first game back ended in a close 2-3 loss to Madras, followed by a 2-0 win over Crook County at the Mt. Hood Invitational.
“We had to completely reset the team,” Coach Doan said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg — I don’t think we’ve played our best yet. I’m looking forward to when our consistency and offense heat up.”
Supporting the Montez Family
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the Montez family during this difficult time. Donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/mruky2vx.
Through shared grief and determination, the Rangers continue to play with purpose — carrying Sophia’s spirit with them in every serve, set, and spike.
