Preseason Preview: 4A Teams to Watch

The 4A OSAA classification is stacked with tons of talents, with some teams bolstering quite the impressive roster. Four teams poised to do very well are Mazama High School, Sisters High School, Sweet Home High School, and Valley Catholic High School. Mazama 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. Having lost no seniors and only dropping two matches last season, they are poised to do pretty well. Sisters High School has been a powerhouse volleyball program since 2007, winning the 4A State championship five times, back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. The past few seasons they have dominated their way to the State tournament but have not gotten back into the finals. Sweet Home High School destroyed the competition last season, only dropping a match to Sisters High School, and placed 2nd in the 4A State Championship back in 2019. Valley Catholic High School has dominated the past couple of seasons, winning the 4A State Championship in 2018 and 2019. 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_157970" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-157970" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/mazama-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Mazama High School The Mazama High School Vikings were a force to be reckoned with last season, finishing second in the Skyline Conference. Luckily for them, this team did not graduate a single senior, so their entire team is returning (minus three athletes that have been moved to junior varsity/quit). So they have a team of nine returning varsity athletes. Their team co-captain and an integral part of this team’s success is 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="116497" first="Bridget" last="Fenner"], their setter, outside/opposite attacker. Fenner was named to the Skyline First Team All-League, as well as co-Player of the Year for the Skyline Conference. On top of this, she was also named the Elite Apparel Athlete of the Season. The other captain of the Vikings is four-year varsity starter 2022 Isabelle Hill, their middle blocker/outside attacker. 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="164415" first="Kaylea" last="Rietdyk"] (Skyline First Team All-League and All-Defensive Team) and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91396" first="Ella" last="Baley"] (Skyline Honorable Mention and All-Defensive Team) are a crucial part of the Vikings defense. Riedtdyk should be seen wearing the libero jersey, and Baley will more than likely be playing all-around given her strong offensive play. 2022 Mallory Menken, another Skyline Second Team All-Conference mention, will be coming back for her senior season as an outside hitter/right-side hitter. Also on the roster for the Vikings is 2022 Sandra Hill, an outside/right side attacker, and defensive specialist, 2022 Mallory Edmonds, a setter/hitter duo, 2023 Annika Lindow, a middle blocker, and 2024 Nishika Irish, another middle blocker. The “Skyline Nine”, as the team has coined, have already started their season strong undefeated in their matches. [caption id="attachment_157971" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-157971" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/sisters-high-school-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Sisters High School The Sisters High School Outlaws had a very successful last season and should be in good shape to have another strong showing. They only lost four seniors and will be returning 2022 powerhouse [player_tooltip player_id="91218" first="Greta" last="Davis"]. Davis was Oregon West co-Player of the Year and recently committed to play for Sacramento State University. Also on the pins are 2024 Gracelyn Myhre and 2022 captain Bre White. Setting either a 6-2 or 5-1 will be 2023 Hannah Fendall, 2023 Anna Landson and/or 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91225" first="Sydney" last="Myhre"] (also a right side, and a team captain). 2024 Bailey Robertson and 2024 Gracie Vohs are the two middle blockers listed so it is safe to assume they will be playing in the middle. The Outlaws are fairly stacked defensively, with four defensive specialists listed. So who will be sporting the libero jersey? They have options. It could be 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126164" first="Mia" last="Monaghan"], 2023 Skyelar Hartford, 2022 captain Maddie Pollard, or 2023 Anna Landon (also listed as a setter). Winning the 4A State championship five times, back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, will the Outlaws have another title to hang after this season? [caption id="attachment_157972" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-157972" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/sweet-home-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Sweet Home High School The Sweet Home High School Huskies saw a lot of success last season, with a first-place finish in the Oregon West Conference and a second-place finish in the 4A Showcase. However, they lost a lot of seniors, eight to be exact, and will only have three returners (all 2022s). One of those seniors being [player_tooltip player_id="91143" first="Bailee" last="Hartsook"] (Western Oregon University) who was a major impact player for the Huskies. The Oregon West Conference Co-Player of the Year and PrepDig 4A All-Star Player of the Year will be a missing link that will be hard to fill. However, with 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91259" first="Jamie" last="Seward"] (an Oregon West Second Team All-League selection) returning, they should be in good hands. She is a leftie that can play anywhere across the net and succeed. She has an insane vertical, a fast arm swing and an impressive block. Also returning are 2022 Adaira Sleutel-Burger and 2022 Chloe Tyler. Tyler will be a solid option for the Huskies on the pins as well as Sleutel-Burger. However, Sleutel-Burger could also be seen in the middle. Joining the three returners are sophomore Brooklyn Hanni, an outside attacker, freshman Kaylynn Mamac, juniors Taryn Abbott, Makayla Guthrie, and Avery Nelson (swinging). Additional seniors are Brooke Dodge, Zoe Opperman, and Kailee Pepple. [caption id="attachment_157973" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-157973" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/valley-cath-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Valley Catholic High School The back-to-back 4A State champions of 2018 and 2019, the Valley Catholic High School Valiants have been a dominant 4A program the past few seasons. Losing only three seniors last season, they should be dominating again this season. The biggest hole the Valiants have will be in the middle. Maddie Klopic, a current University of Puget Sound freshman, played in this position the past couple of seasons. You will see 2022 Shreya Naidu, a 6’2” senior, taking over for Klopic as well as 2022 Hannah Fredd or 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="161856" first="JoJo" last="Christiansen"]. Their pins will be strong with returners 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91314" first="Naima" last="Foster"] (co-Cowapa Player of the Year 2020, and a First Team All-League Selection) and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91320" first="Frances" last="Eisenhardt"] (Cowapa First Team All-League). Both play all-around, are lethal in their positions and were named to the PrepDig 4A All-Star Team. Will 2024 Katiya Blas-Arellano be setting a 5-1? Or will 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="161860" first="Peyton" last="Rogers"] see court time, running a 6-2 or 5-1? In the libero jersey, will be returner 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91235" first="Kylee" last="King"], who has been on the roster since her freshman year and will be the primary libero two seasons running. She also received Cowapa First Team All-League and was named to the PrepDig 4A All-Star Team. 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 Gracie Arnold, OH, Cottage Grove High School 2022 Lacy Churchfield, OH/DS, Baker High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126032" first="Jadyn" last="Daviscourt"], DS, Cascade High School 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="115781" first="Kelsey" last="Fausett"], OH, Astoria High School 2022 Kendal Hadwick, DS, Henley High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126025" first="Alondra" last="Paz"], OH, Woodburn High School 2022 Teryn Powers, S/RS, Hidden Valley High School 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="116494" first="Jaydan" last="Sahlin"], MB/RS, North Marion High School 2022 Addison Sangermano, DS, Junction City High School