South Eugene Axe Girls Volleyball 2-3 South Salem

South Salem handed South Eugene a 3-2 defeat Tuesday night in a five-set girls volleyball battle to open the 2026 fall season. The Axe, representing Eugene, Oregon, and the Southwest Conference (6A), made the road trip to Salem for this non-league matchup and gave the Saxons a genuine fight before falling short in the deciding set. Dropping a close five-setter on the road to start the year is never easy, but the competitive nature of the match offers early evidence that South Eugene is prepared to compete this season. Taking a strong program like South Salem to five sets in game one shows a level of grit that will serve the Axe well once Southwest Conference play begins. South Eugene now stands at 0-1 on the year and will look to pick up its first win the next time out. Keep an eye on this squad as the schedule progresses and the team finds its rhythm together.