Tour of Oregon: Top Middle Blockers from Salem (2021/2023)

<p>As we tour the state of Oregon, we will be making many stops throughout this great State. We will be stopping by cities big and small, highlighting the best athletes in those places. Second stop: Salem! Here are the top three middle blockers from the class of 2021 and 2023: </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2021</span></span></p> [caption id="attachment_124563" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqQOnY1QBdN717Eb6tBa9oQ"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-124563" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/celia-hubbard-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> <em>Photo: OSAA</em>[/caption] <p><b><i>[player_tooltip player_id="91128" first="Celia" last="Hubbard"]</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 6’0", MB, Sprague High School, North Pacific Juniors </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hubbard had a breakout season for the Sprague High School Olympians, helping them finish first in the Mountain Valley Conference. A Varsity returner, she was a force in the middle for the Olympians. While she is a dominant attacker, with a mean slide attack, the strongest part of her game is her blocking. When in the middle, she puts up a wall, sealing with the net. She moves well laterally when moving to the pins to close the block. Last club season she played for North Pacific Juniors 17-1 National and will be returning to NPJ this season.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2023</span></span></p> [caption id="attachment_124561" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/TiaP10"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-124561" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/tia-picknell-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> <em>Photo: OSAA</em>[/caption] <p><b><i>[player_tooltip player_id="91322" first="Tia" last="Picknell"]</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 5’10", MB, Roseburg High School, North Pacific Juniors </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Picknell had a breakout first season for the Roseburg High School Indians, helping them advance to the first round of the 6A State tournament, falling to Mountainside High School. As one of two freshmen on the Indians roster, she was an impact player for them as their starting middle. She is a multisport athlete, participating in track and field at Roseburg High School. She brings her athleticism and aggressiveness to the court. Sadly, halfway through last club season Picknell was injured and did not get to finish. Given her size, she is beginning to transition to the outside. Last club season she played for North Pacific Juniors 15-1 National and will be returning to NPJ for this upcoming season. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_124562" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxmra4sPb5KswNqZ1jvCDjA"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-124562" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/ella-smith-headhsot-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> <em>Photo: OSAA</em>[/caption] <p><b><i>[player_tooltip player_id="91325" first="Ella" last="Smith"]</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 6’2", MB/RS, Corvallis High School, North Pacific Juniors </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smith had an exceptional first high school season, being the lone freshman on the Corvallis High School Spartans, helped them achieve a third-place finish in the 5A State tournament.Although the only freshman on the Spartans roster, she did not let that stop her. She saw significant playing time as their starting middle. A three-sport athlete for the Spartans playing basketball and track, she brings her athleticism to the volleyball court. She is a really strong blocker, and moves well laterally. She is continuing to improve her game given her coachability. Last club season she played for North Pacific Juniors 15-1 National and will be returning to NPJ for this upcoming season. </span></p>