Middle Blockers Commanding at PrepDig/Baden PNW Invitational

<p>Over the weekend of August 1st I had the privilege of covering the PrepDig/Baden Pacific Northwest Invitational Training Camp. The camp was structured to bring the best athletes in Oregon and Southwest Washington into one facility and let them compete. With COVID-19 the opportunities for athletes to compete have been severely limited, so this was a great chance to get the best of the best in one place. While some players were not able to attend, the Courts were filled with forty-seven incredible volleyball players. Be on the lookout for content coming highlighting players in attendance.</p> <p>Below are the middle blockers who represented their class and position well at the camp.</p> [caption id="attachment_105045" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13398693/Alliyah-Barnes"><img class="wp-image-105045 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/Alliyah-Barnes-Headshot-e1597609968855-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> <em>Photo: Cole Petters</em>[/caption] <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="97308" first="Alliyah" last="Barnes"], </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">6’1", MB, Camas High School, Excel NW</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes Barnes such a special player is her ability to consistently make herself available to attack for her setters. She has been improving quickly and made significant progress to her game in the past seasons. In the middle, she puts up a powerful block creating a wall for her opponents. </span></p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z1Rav2_i5I&amp;feature=youtu.be">Check out her stuff block in the middle! </a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barnes had a stellar first season as the lone freshman on the Camas High School Papermaker Varsity squad. As a starting middle, helped the Papermaker finish first in the league and seventh in the 4A State tournament. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last club season she played for Excel NW 15-1 Rox. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_105044" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10128912/Emma-Swett"><img class="wp-image-105044 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/Emma-Swett-Headshot-e1597609820308-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> <em>Photo: Cole Petters</em>[/caption] <p><b></b><b>[player_tooltip player_id="96982" first="Emma" last="Swett"], </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">6’1", MH, Woodland High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes Swett such a special player is how incredibly quick she is. Defensively, she moves well laterally to get to the pins on the block. Offensively, she attacks well in transition consistently making herself available. Technically, she does an exceptional job being explosive, doing a great job of moving slow to fast on her approach. </span></p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sis9nTcJ9wA&amp;feature=youtu.be">Check out her explosive middle attack!</a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Swett had another impressive season for the Woodland High School Beavers as their starting middle blocker. She was awarded 2A Greater St. Helens First Team All-League for her impeccable play. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She recently received a full-ride athletic scholarship from Western Washington University, but no decisions have been made. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 National team. </span></p>