Senior Setters Shined at PrepDig/Baden PNW Invitational

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. Below are the senior setters who represented their class and position well at the camp. [caption id="attachment_109358" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5_YnECMZ80HfNd7EvEpeQ"><img class="wp-image-109358 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/allison-buccholz-head-shot-e1600478970105-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] <div class="article-title">[player_tooltip player_id="91109" first="Alison" last="Buchholz"], 5’7", S, Jesuit High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy, Washington & Lee University </div> What makes Buchholz such a special player is her competitor mentality. When she steps onto the court, she is ready to give it her all for her team. She is mentally tough and does not let the little things rattle her game. Her teammates look to her as a leader which she has displayed through the years. She is an incredibly smart setter and knows when to distribute the ball to the right hitter at the right moment. <a href="https://youtu.be/oB0MKDwGq2M">Check out Buchholz get her hands on this tough set to run the middle!</a> Buchholz, a three-year starting setter for the Jesuit High School Crusaders, has helped them win two 6A State titles. For the Crusaders, Buchholz has accumulated 1,523 assists running both a 5-1 and 6-2. As a sophomore, she was awarded Metro Second Team All-League and this past season she was awarded Metro First Team All-League as well as Second Team All-State for the 6A tournament. Last club season she ran a 5-1 as the only setter for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 18-1 National team, one of three juniors on the team. She recently committed to play for Washington & Lee University. [caption id="attachment_109357" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-109357 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/adia-messenger-head-shot-e1600478702658-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91110" first="Adia" last="Messenger"], 5’10", S, Reynolds High School, Portland Volleyball Club, Eastern Washington University What makes Adia such a special player is her versatility. Even though she is trained as a setter, she shines in any position on the court. With a hammer of an arm swing, she is often seen playing along the front row when not setting. During the high school season, she even got a chance to play middle blocker. When setting, she uses her good decision making to create one on one opportunities for her attackers. <a href="https://youtu.be/vQapcG5oSrQ">Check out Messenger’s impressive back set! </a> Messenger, a three-year Varsity starter, is an impact player for the Reynolds High School Raiders. She was awarded Mt. Hood Second Team All-League as a sophomore and Mt. Hood First Team All-League this past season. This past season she was averaging 23.2 assists, 12.2 digs, 2.3 aces, and 5.5 kills per match. This season, under new head coach Nerisa Laban, she helped the Raiders take a set off of powerhouse team Central Catholic High School. Last club season she set for Portland Volleyball Club’s 18-1 National team. She is committed to play for Eastern Washington University. [caption id="attachment_109359" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/oregon/portland/wilson-high-school12/melia-patrick"><img class="wp-image-109359 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/malia-patrick-headshot-e1600479145496-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91116" first="Melia" last="Patrick"], 5’10", S, Wilson High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy What makes Patrick such a special player is the sense of calm she brings to the court. She is an incredibly steady force running a consistent and fast offense for her team. Given her tall stature, she is often seen running a 5-1 for her teams as she can put up a strong block. During club season she was the only returner to Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 and the only setter on the roster, so she used her athleticism and leadership to make her self indispensable to the team. <a href="https://youtu.be/KdFHurkpOro">Check out Patrick’s tricky set to the outside! </a> Patrick, a three-year Varsity starter for the Wilson Trojans, helped them go undefeated in league as their starting setter. She was awarded Portland Interscholastic Second Team All-League as a junior and Portland Interscholastic First Team All-League as a sophomore. Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 National. [caption id="attachment_109360" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14203053/Kealani-Rosa"><img class="wp-image-109360 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/kealani-rosa-headshot-e1600479266677-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91131" first="Kealani" last="Rosa"], 5’6", S, Central Catholic High School, Live Aloha Volleyball Academy What makes Rosa such a special player is the intensity she brings to the court. Her energy is unmatched, and she consistently brings up the energy for her team, both on and off the court. Incredibly competitive and driven she pushes her teammates to reach their full potential. She is constantly talking to her teammates, essential for a good setter. Given both her communication and court sense, she has stepped into the Libero role from time to time for her club team. <a href="https://youtu.be/fQSV6P8MgDo">Check out Rosa’s sneaky setter dump!</a> Rosa, a three-year Varsity starter, has led the Central Catholic High School Rams to two second-place finishes and one fourth-place finish in the 6A State tournament. Setting for the Rams since her freshman year she has received Mt. Hood First Team All-League three years in a row. Last club season she played for Live Aloha Volleyball Academy’s 18-1 team.