Preseason Preview: 5A Teams to Watch

The 5A OSAA classification is stacked with tons of talents, with some teams bolstering quite the impressive roster. Four teams poised to do very well are Crater High School, LaSalle Prep, West Albany High School, and Wilsonville High School. West Albany High School has been a powerhouse volleyball program since 2011, placing second in the 5A finals, and then winning the State title in 2012 and 2013. The past few seasons they have dominated their way to the State tournament but have not gotten back into the finals. LaSalle Prep placed second in the 5A State tournament back in 2014 and 2015, but have not managed to get that far since then. Wilsonville High School achieved a second place finish in 2019, their first ever appearance in the 5A State finals. Crater High School is the definite underdog, but is a team that is stacked with so much talent, it will be exciting to see how far they will go. Here is a look at some key players for these high schools, as well as a few top returning athletes to watch as well. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of State finish predictions.) [caption id="attachment_155331" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-155331" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/crater-high-logo-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Crater High School Although the Crater High School Comets graduated a substantial class last season with loads of talent, they have plenty of athletes still returning with lots of talent. Last season the Comets finished with a 10-3 record, and placed second in the Midwestern League. And they are poised to do well both this season and next with no seniors listed on their current roster. Since her freshman season 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91342" first="Kate" last="Stidham"] has been running the offense for the Comets, and doing quite well, receiving Midwestern First Team All-League both seasons. It is a safe bet she will be doing so again for the team. On the pins, they will have both power and height with 2023 6’1” Madison Kocina and 2023 6’2” [player_tooltip player_id="91365" first="Kendra" last="Bittle"]. Previously, the libero position was played by [player_tooltip player_id="143650" first="Kylie" last="Anderson"], however, with her graduating, the position remains up for grabs. With plenty of defensive specialists on the roster, the Comets will have lots of talent to choose from, like 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91381" first="Lilliana" last="Reid"], 2023 Georja Hanover, or 2024 Joslyhn Pope. They also rostered three freshmen, defensive specialist Callie Aplin, and middle blockers Danica Huntoon and Alexa Gugliotta. The season opener for the Comets is Thursday (9/2) against Churchill High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/40690">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_155332" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-155332" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/la-salle-prep-logo-150x150.gif" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] LaSalle Catholic College Preparatory The La Salle Catholic College Preparatory Falcons are looking to make another impressive run in the 5A Classification, having a previous record of 10-3 and finishing second in the Northwest Oregon Conference last season. The senior setter [player_tooltip player_id="91254" first="Mia" last="McCaffrey"], a varsity starter since her sophomore year, will look to lead the Falcons as their primary setter. In the middle, again, will be 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126031" first="Hailey" last="Heyvelt"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91319" first="Olivia" last="Maulding"], who both bring lots of heat and height. On the pins, the Falcons will have lots of options in 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91278" first="Audrey" last="Hibler"], 2022 Peyton Stephens, 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="117998" first="Lily" last="Scherler"], and 2022 Grace Bienapfl. The libero position was fulfilled by 2022 Amanda Rivera last season, and could very well be this way for this season. However, with the addition of transfer defensive specialist 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91372" first="Mallorie" last="Taylor"] (formerly at Central Catholic), it will be interesting to see who ends up in that role. The season opener for the Falcons is Tuesday (9/7) against Wilsonville High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41006">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_132772" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-132772" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/west-albany-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] West Albany High School Had the 5A State tournament happened last season, the West Albany High School Bulldogs would have been an exciting team to watch compete, and probably would have gotten themselves into the finals. This team went undefeated in league play and only dropped one match, against a 6A South Salem team. Having graduated five very talented seniors last season you would think this might be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs, however, they are stacked with talent, plenty of whom saw court time last season. Ready to dominate on the outside, are sure to be returners 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91217" first="Hailey" last="Heider"] and 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126029" first="Kendyl" last="Arnett"]. Also on the pin will be 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="116501" first="Cadence" last="Crumal"], though most likely playing on the right side. Another player that will be fun to watch is 2022 setter, [player_tooltip player_id="91243" first="Sydney" last="Harrington"]. She has been on the roster since her freshman season but had been behind [player_tooltip player_id="91122" first="Elijah" last="Sanders"] (current LBCC freshman), so she has not had a chance to truly shine. It is safe to assume she will take on the brunt of the setting duties this season. In the middle, the Bulldogs have lots of options with 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91298" first="Grace" last="Nealy"], 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91239" first="Gracie" last="Boeder"], and 2023 Tessa Zimmerman. Plus the addition of 2024 Jenna Konzelman. The libero position is up for grabs, having previously been fulfilled by Madie Dowel (current LBCC freshman). 2022 Chloe Wallace and 2022 Maddy Hellem both have a good chance of sporting this jersey for the Bulldogs. The season opener for the Bulldogs is Thursday (9/2) against South Albany High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41709">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_130265" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-130265" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/Wilsonville-e1613365915957-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Wilsonville High School The Wilsonville High School Wildcats are another team that showed a lot of promise last season, only dropping one match to La Salle Prep, and finishing first in the Northwest Oregon Conference. Although the Wildcats lost [player_tooltip player_id="91111" first="Clarissa" last="Klein"] (current St. Mary’s College freshman), they are still poised to do pretty well this season. They will be returning powerhouse varsity starter and six rotation outside attacker 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91206" first="Ashli" last="Edmiston"], who will bring explosiveness to the offense. Setting will be returner 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91318" first="Makenna" last="Wiepert"], however, the question will be if she is running a 5-1 or a 6-2. Last season 2022 Hannah Holman jumped in to set, and Wiepert does an exceptional job attacking and blocking on the right side. In the middle, the Wildcats will have options. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91247" first="Tatum" last="Lubisich"] has been in the middle the past seasons, but is listed on the roster as a middle blocker/outside attacker, so she might see a new role this season. Also in the middle could be 2022 Sydnie Bierma, 2023 Kaylee Dresser, and 2023 Emma Alewine. All of these athletes could also play on the right side and are listed as such on the roster. The only libero listed is senior Sophia Klecker, and being the returning libero for the Wildcats, it is safe to assume she will step back into this role. The season opener for the Wildcats is Tuesday (9/7) against La Salle Prep. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41760">here</a>. Below is a list of some other athletes to keep your eyes out for, that are not a part of the high schools mentioned above, but are sure to dominate for their team: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="143659" first="Jenna" last="Albrecht"], OH, Ridgeview High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126024" first="Alexis" last="Haury"], S/RS, Silverton High School 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91220" first="Madison" last="Heagney"], S, Crescent Valley High School 2022 Sierra Noss, S, Crescent Valley High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126027" first="Jaydn" last="Puncochar"], OH, Hillsboro High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91325" first="Ella" last="Smith"], MB, Corvallis High School 2024 Dani Street, DS, Crescent Valley High School