By René Ferrán

Over the subsequent week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position have a look at a number of the prime gamers in Oregon highschool volleyball. Our third record focuses on the center blockers and center hitters.

There are a whole bunch of standout volleyball gamers in Oregon and these lists will not be meant to be complete! Tell us about another middles you assume needs to be added.

Halle Garrity (Westview) picture by Leon Neuschwander 

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MH Olivia Adamo, Oregon Metropolis, Jr.

Adamo was the one sophomore to make the all-Three Rivers first group final fall, and he or she’s off to a different sturdy begin this season after coming back from an harm. Throughout September, she had 92 kills (.328 hitting proportion), 24 aces and 16 blocks. “Olivia is a dynamic hitter whose capacity to see holes within the block or open spots on the court docket is superb,” mentioned Pioneers coach Erica Frafjord.

MH/RS Lucy Allen, Sundown, Sr.

Allen has led the Apollos in blocking all season. By Sept. 30, she had 51 blocks (17 solo) to go along with 40 kills (.257 hitting proportion), 14 aces and 40 digs.

MB Jaycee Anderson, Powder Valley, Jr.

Anderson has thrived shifting into the beginning lineup this season, main the Badgers in kills and rating among the many group’s prime servers with a devastating leap serve. “Jaycee has walked onto the court docket this fall a completely totally different participant,” coach Marji Lind mentioned. “She is assured, has turn out to be a group chief, and is taking the ground by storm.”

MB Alyssa Baird, Portland Christian, So.

Baird is already one of many grizzled veterans on a younger Royals roster that options one senior. She was a second-team all-Northwest League choice final fall, serving to the group attain the 2A quarterfinals. “Alyssa is a strong all-around participant,” mentioned first-year coach Denetia Chimuku. “She is a key this 12 months in our success and an integral a part of our development as a group.”

MH Taelyn Bentley, Crescent Valley, So.

Bentley made the all-Mid-Willamette second group final season and has improved her numbers throughout the board this fall — 142 kills (3.3 per set) with a team-high .469 hitting proportion and 31 blocks. Raiders coach Troy Shorey boldly proclaimed, “she is without doubt one of the prime two middles within the state. She brings the group loads of power when she assaults.” 

MB Cali Bitzer, Mazama, Fr.

Bitzer has transitioned from soccer to volleyball and may play nearly any place for the Vikings. She has settled into her function as a center blocker, with 29 blocks, 70 kills and 22 aces. “Cali shouldn’t be solely a 6-foot blocker, however she additionally performs superb protection,” mentioned assistant coach Sam Fenner. “She has a strong arm swing and may hit persistently to the 10-foot line.” 

MH Grace Bradford, Myrtle Level, Sr.

Bradford was one of many vibrant spots for the Bobcats final season, main the group in kills and making the all-Sundown first group whereas main the squad to the convention playoffs — all after reducing off her thumb in woodshop class in June 2021, having it reattached and therapeutic in time for the season. This fall, she once more leads the Bobcats in kills and aces and is second on the group in digs. 

MB Sydney Brewster, Sandy, Sr.

Brewster made the all-Mt. Hood record in every of her first three seasons — the second group as a freshman and sophomore and the primary group final fall. This 12 months, she averaged a team-high 14 kills per match throughout September whereas posting a 2.5 passer ranking. She additionally received the 6A state championship within the discus in Might. “Sydney is the rock of our group,” mentioned Pioneers coach Maggie Younger. “She is a real chief and is aware of methods to hold herself and her group calm in probably the most tense conditions. She is really a team-first athlete.”

MH/RS Anabelle Davidson, St. Paul, Sr.

Davidson was a first-team all-Casco choice final season, ending with 218 kills (.421 kill proportion), 80 blocks and 85 aces whereas serving at a .919 clip. “She’s an awesome chief on the court docket,” Buckaroos coach Les Hiller mentioned. 

MB/RS Joya Euhus, Santiam Christian, So.

Euhus bided her time final fall for the Eagles, however her play for her membership group has drawn the eye of a number of D-I and NAIA colleges within the area. “Joya was new to our college and program final 12 months, so she got here in nonetheless determining her function,” coach Kelli Fitzpatrick mentioned. “Over the past 12 months, she has grown considerably in her ability, confidence and management. I’m very impressed with the expansion I’ve seen in her, and as a group, everyone seems to be benefiting from the place she’s at right now.”

MB Mia Fedota, St. Mary’s Academy, Sr.

Fedota is a 6-3 presence in the midst of the Blues entrance line, main the group in kills. The four-year varsity participant has dedicated to the College of Puget Sound. “Mia’s court docket imaginative and prescient is superb — she will hit any spot on the court docket,” mentioned first-year coach Wendy Stammer. “Mia is so hungry to enhance in each side of the sport and is extraordinarily humble as a participant.” 

MB Halle Garrity, Westview, Sr.

Garrity has anchored the center of the entrance row for the Wildcats for 3 seasons, making the all-Metro first group final fall. She leads the group in blocks with 38 and is second with 102 kills and 21 aces. “She is an explosive participant within the center and a robust, constant server,” coach Janelle Brandt mentioned. “She is an enormous block for us on the internet and laborious to cease offensively.” 

MB Aly Herber, Salem Academy, Sr.

Herber dominated the center for the 2A state champion Crusaders final season, incomes first-team all-Tri-River, all-state and all-tournament honors — she had a match-high 14 kills within the state remaining. She picked up the place she left off this 12 months, main the group with 281 kills on the midway level of the season. She additionally had a team-high 36 aces and 145 digs, second to freshman Emma Brewer.

MH Caitlyn Horrell, Burns, So.

Horrell performed a secondary function within the Hilanders assault final fall, but she made the all-Japanese Oregon League second group. She’s taken on an even bigger function this season, and thru Oct. 7 she was second on the group in kills with 162 (.267 hitting proportion), blocks (55) and aces (51). 

MH Akyla Kaino, Burns, So.

Kaino made the 3A all-state second group as a freshman for the state champion Hilanders final season, when she had 204 kills and 120 blocks. She’s picked up the place she left off this 12 months, enhancing her hitting (.230) and kill (.398) percentages with a team-high 175 kills (2.9 per set) and 92 blocks.

MB Willa Kayfes, Valley Catholic, So.

Kayfes transferred again to Valley Catholic from Westview over the summer season, and he or she infused some wanted peak to the entrance row. The 5-11 center led the group throughout the first month with 12 blocks and was second in kills with 112 (.347 hitting proportion). “We’re so glad she (got here again),” coach Becky Kemper mentioned. “She is vital to our offense.”

MB Caitlin Kirkpatrick, Sherwood, Sr.

Kirkpatrick final season made the all-Pacific second group in serving to the Bowmen win the convention title, ending with 78 kills and 46 blocks.

MB Kate Klobas, Tillamook, Jr.

Klobas made the all-Cowapa first group final season. Cheesemakers coach Lavonne Rawe known as her “a quiet warrior, prepared to do something for the betterment of the group. These athletes are the grit of the group. Kate is a type of.” 

MH Stella Koch, St. Paul, Jr.

Koch received Casco participant of the 12 months honors and was a unanimous first-team all-tournament choice for the 1A state runner-up final season, ending with 351 kills (.437 kill proportion) and 112 blocks. 

MB Lilly Lansing, Jesuit, Jr.

Lansing has emerged from the shadow of all-state center Tess Masingale this season, main the Crusaders in blocks (32) and rating third in kills (91, .309 hitting proportion). 

MB/OH Kendall MacFarland, Caldera, Jr.

MacFarland had a .335 hitting proportion via Oct. 7 for the Wolfpack. She is a passionate social justice advocate who’s a part of the Spanish immersion program at college and plans to turn out to be an immigration legal professional. “Kendall is a dynamic child who will play wherever you want her,” coach Alicia Roe-Rudloff mentioned. “She’s a tall child at 6 foot, however she’s all around the ground with the defensive specialists and placing away balls as a forceful hitter.” 

MB Jacie Madden, Klamath Union, So.

Madden was a part-time participant for the Pelicans final season, when she had 20 kills and 14 blocks, however she shortly grew to become a go-to standout this 12 months. “She’s younger, however she has tenacity and an awesome work ethic,” coach Faryn Case mentioned. “She has turn out to be an enormous drive for us this 12 months, not solely along with her blocking however hits and protection.” 

MB Olivia Madsen, Westview, So.

The Wildcats are a veteran group, however Madsen has managed to crack the lineup and has proven she will likely be a constructing block for the group sooner or later. She was third on the group with 76 kills and 18 blocks throughout their 17-3 begin. “Olie is younger and nonetheless growing within the center however can hammer the ball when she connects effectively with the setter,” coach Janelle Brandt mentioned. 

MB Ellianna McMoore, David Douglas, Jr.

McMoore averages a team-high two solo blocks per match and was second on the group in kills via the primary month of her first varsity season. “She has made a big effect, and I’m very excited to see what Ellianna does within the second half of the season,” Scots coach Janeen Rainey mentioned. “Not solely is she a robust and devoted athlete, however she can be an incredible teammate.” 

MB Kate Miles, Marshfield, Sr.

Miles had a strong season final fall for the Pirates, ending with 51 blocks, 82 kills, 53 aces and 223 digs in incomes second-team all-Sky Em recognition. “Kate has superb timing and hangs within the air on her blocks,” coach Tammie Montiel mentioned. “Though she performs center blocker, she may very well be an incredible libero as effectively.” 

MB Julia Mitchell, Damascus Christian, Sr.

Mitchell is a two-time all-Valley 10 first-team choice who made the 1A all-tournament group final fall, ending the season with 219 kills, 235 digs, 57 blocks and 56 aces. She led the Eagles via 15 matches this season in serve proportion (.957) and had 100 kills, 20 blocks and 33 aces. Coach Emily Russau known as the Spring Arbor College commit “a servant chief, all the time the primary one to start out organising the online, cleansing the fitness center, or no matter it might be that the coaches want. She is the glue to this group. She not solely brings depth to the group but in addition creates group chemistry that’s important to our success. Her work ethic is contagious.” 

MB Sky Nesser, Powder Valley, Fr.

Badgers coach Marji Lind quipped that “the sky is the restrict” for her freshman phenom, who earned the nickname “Chicken” from her teammates “as a result of it appears to be like like she is flying more often than not.” Lind additionally praised how Nesser “has accepted the function and stress as a varsity participant as a freshman very naturally. She has super pure expertise, and her work ethic is excellent.” 

MB Julissa Pernsteiner, St. Mary’s Academy, Jr.

Pernsteiner, an honorable point out all-Three Rivers decide final season, leads the Blues in blocks and is second to Mia Fedota in kills. The versatile 5-9 third-year varsity participant has performed all three front-row positions this season, however first-year coach Wendy Stammer likes her finest taking part in reverse Fedota as a center. “Julissa is probably the most bodily hitter on our group,” Stammer mentioned. “When she hits the ball, she makes heads flip. She is simply 5-9, however she performs center like she’s 6-2.” 

MH Genevieve Robinson, Weston-McEwen, Sr.

Robinson is a 6-1 presence within the center who made the all-Blue Mountain first group after ending final season with 265 kills, 45 aces and 62 blocks. “Her blocking is a game-changer on the internet,” mentioned TigerScots coach Shawn White. “She vastly impacts the opposite group’s hitters.” 

MH Bailey Robertson, Sisters, Jr.

With all-state center Gracie Vohs shifting exterior this 12 months, the door opened for Robertson to enter the beginning lineup, the place she has thrived throughout the Outlaws’ 19-2 begin. “Bailey labored laborious within the offseason to determine herself as one of many prime middles in our league,” coach Rory Rush mentioned. “She has a fast assault and may put up an enormous, sturdy block, irritating her opponents.” 

MB Olivia Rosborough, Silverton, Sr. 

Rosborough made the all-Mid-Willamette first group final season in main the Foxes to the 5A quarterfinals for the primary time since 2015. This 12 months, she had a team-high 24 blocks (17 solo) and 70 kills (.290 hitting proportion) in September. “Liv is a robust athlete and a real competitor,” coach Reilly-Jane Rosecrans mentioned. 

MB Hayley Shaaf, Catlin Gabel, Fr.

Shaaf has hardly regarded like a freshman throughout the first month of the season, main the Eagles in hitting effectivity and rating second in kills. “She’s going to be a drive sooner or later,” coach Jeannette Lee mentioned. “We work laborious to offer her the ball as usually as potential.” 

MH Cayton Smith, Oregon Episcopal, Sr.

Volleyball is likely to be the third of Smith’s three sports activities — she has dedicated to play basketball on the College of Puget Sound and may additionally golf for the Loggers after ending eighth on the 4A/3A/2A/1A state event as a junior — however you’d by no means guess it. She was a Lewis & Clark co-player of the 12 months and a second-team 3A all-state choice as a junior, when she had 236 kills, 321 digs, 58 aces and 18 blocks in main the Aardvarks to the quarterfinals. This season, she averaged 12.8 kills and 15.8 digs per match via Oct. 3. One way or the other, she nonetheless finds the time to run her bakery enterprise, C.C.’s Loopy Truffles. “Cayton is a aggressive participant who offers every little thing she has whereas being a pacesetter for her teammates,” mentioned OES coach Nikole Weir. “She is regular, constant and our go-to participant.” 

MB Ella Smith, Corvallis, Sr.

Smith, a four-year varsity participant, made the all-Mid-Willamette honorable point out record final season. She warmed up for convention play this 12 months by hitting .244 with 1.8 kills per set to go along with 17 blocks and 24 aces. “Ella is a good chief and participant who’s a robust blocker and hitter,” mentioned Spartans coach Kari Morrow. “She has limitless potential.”

MB Tayler Westfall, Silverton, Sr.

Westfall moved from the precise facet to the center this 12 months, taking part in reverse Olivia Rosborough within the rotation and recording 18 blocks (15 solo) within the season’s first month. “Exhausting-working and tenacious” is how coach Reilly-Jane Rosecrans described her, including that “Tayler will look to beat any problem or doubts set in entrance of her.” 

MH Brooke Williams, Oregon Metropolis, Jr.

Williams has loved a breakthrough season this fall, hitting .355 with 124 kills throughout the first month of the season whereas main the group with 31 blocks. Pioneers coach Erica Frafjord known as her “an aggressive center hitter who’s an intimidating presence on the web.” 

MB Drewsey Williams, Grant Union, Jr.

Williams was a first-team all-Blue Mountain choice final season who helped the Prospectors end fourth on the 2A state event. Coach Mariah Moulton watches her keep after observe every single day, taking additional reps on the internet, then arriving early the subsequent day to place in additional work earlier than observe. “She is a really sturdy chief on and off the court docket,” Moulton mentioned. “I’m very excited to see the place life takes Drewsey sooner or later.”

MB Kaitlyn Wooden, Sheldon, Sr.

The primary-team all-Southwest choice final season has dedicated to Rocky Mountain Faculty. She had 106 kills and 22 aces throughout the Irish’s 14-4 begin this season. “Kait is a good teammate,” coach Martine Wodke mentioned. “She all the time works laborious and brings nice power to the sport. She is a pleasure to teach.” 

MH/RS Tessa Zimmermann, West Albany, Sr.

Zimmermann made the 5A all-state honorable point out record final season, when she hit .266 with 105 kills, 28 blocks and 56 digs to assist the Bulldogs win the state title. With the commencement of three all-state teammates, she has stepped right into a management function this 12 months whereas hitting a team-high .423. “Tessa has a robust voice and retains a degree head,” coach Megan Wallace mentioned. “She has been a drive this season taking part in all six rotations. She is dependable in all points of the sport and does an awesome job of build up the individuals round her.”