2023 Rankings Update: Stock Risers (pt. 1)
The FOURTEEN athletes mentioned below all showed lots of improvement since the last rankings update. All of these athletes made BIG jumps in the 2023 rankings. A second stock risers article will be published soon that summarizes another EIGHT athletes…
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Continue ReadingThe FOURTEEN athletes mentioned below all showed lots of improvement since the last rankings update. All of these athletes made BIG jumps in the 2023 rankings.
A second stock risers article will be published soon that summarizes another EIGHT athletes who made a jump in their rank.
Kayleigh Carpenter Kayleigh Carpenter 5'9" | OH South Salem | 2023 State #146 Nation OR
12 → 2
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’9”
Position: OH
High School: South Salem High School
Club: North Pacific Juniors 17-1 National
Commitment: Boise State
Honors: Mountain Valley First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Carpenter continues to show steady improvement in all aspects of her game. A six-rotation outside attacker for NPJ and the Saxons, she continues to perfect her craft and has become one of the most dominant outside attackers in the State. This high school season she took on a big load as a go-to attacker for the Saxons.
She recently committed to play for Bosie State for the fall of 2023.
Amyah Semau Amyah Semau 5'10" | OH West Linn | 2023 State OR
10 → 6
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’11”
Position: OH
High School: West Linn High School
Club: North Pacific Juniors 17-1 National
Honors: Three Rivers Honorable Mention
Why the rise?
A three-year varsity athlete for the West Linn High School Lions, Semau took on a much bigger role this season, opposite of #1 2022 recruit Emily Warmenhoven Emily Warmenhoven 5'10" | OH West Linn | 2022 State OR . With lots of offensive power on the Lions squad, she still made herself known and was a definite impact for the team. Playing for PVC until this season, she has made the switch to play for NPJ 17-1 National.
Makenna Wiepert Makenna Wiepert 5'11" | S Wilsonville | 2023 State OR
14 → 7
Height: 5’11”
Position: S
High School: Wilsonville High School
Club: Athena Volleyball Academy 17-1 National
Honors: Northwest Oregon First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Not only has Wiepert grown in height over the past two seasons, shooting up INCHES (5’6” as a freshman to 5’11” as a junior!), her skill continues to grow. Becoming a much more dominant and well-rounded athlete, Wiepert can do it all for both the Wilsonville High School Wildcats and Athena Volleyball Club (making the 17-1 National team this season).
Elsa Mcdermott Elsa Mcdermott 5'7" | DS/L Catlin Gabel | 2023 State #180 Nation OR
30 → 11
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’7”
Position: DS
High School: Catlin Gabel School
Club: Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 National
Honors: Lewis & Clark First Team All-League (2021), 3A First Team All-State (2021)
Why the rise?
McDermott made substantial improvements to her defensive game over the last club season, playing for OJVA 16-1 as their primary libero (a team that dominated CEVA and finished #1 in the region). During the high school season, she showcased her versatility for the Catlin Gabel Eagles playing all six rotations as their outside attacker.
Kalista Lukovich Kalista Lukovich 6'0" | OH Nelson | 2023 State OR
23 → 14
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 6’0”
Position: OH
High School Nelson High School
Club: Chaos Volleyball 18-1 National
Honors: Mt. Hood First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Lukovich, a two-year varsity starter for Clackamas High School, ended up transferring to the new high school this year (Nelson High School) and was a force for the team, playing all six rotations. She helped the Hawks advance to the 2nd round of the 6A State tournament. She played club for Chaos 17-1 National and was their go-to attacker for the team.
Gwen Fife Gwen Fife 6'0" | OH Sheldon | 2023 State OR
104 → 16
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’9”
Position: OH
High School: Sheldon Gabel School
Club: Webfoot Juniors 18-1 National
Commitment: University of Utah (Beach)
Honors: Southwest Second Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Fife was a player included in the initial rankings due to the teams she was on, but I had not been able to see her in action until this season. Once I saw her play for Sheldon, I knew she was ranked far too low, so up Fife went to #16! She was Sheldon’s six-rotation outside attacker, competes at a very high level in club ball, plays for Webfoot Jrs, and is a competitive beach player.
She recently committed to play beach for the University of Utah program for the fall of 2023.
Kate Stidham Kate Stidham 5'9" | S Crater | 2023 State OR
39 → 21
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’9”
Position: S
High School: Crater High School
Club: Spiketown Volleyball Club
Honors: Midwestern First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Stidham has shown a lot of growth over the past year and has really come into her own as a setter. Setting a 5-1 during high school season for Crater High School, she became a definite leader, running the court, making good set decisions. Playing for NPJ 16-1 National last season, she will be heading to Spiketown this season, where she will join a lot of her Crater teammates.
Elle Bruegman Elle Bruegman 5'8" | DS/L Sheldon | 2023 State OR
81 → 22
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’8”
Position: DS
High School: Sheldon High School
Club: Webfoot Jrs. 18-1 National
Honors: Southwest First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Bruegman has really come into her own this past season and has developed into a well-rounded defensive specialist. She has shown great improvement to her defensive game and has become a definite leader in the back row. She was Sheldon’s primary libero all season long, but being 5’8” has the versatility, height, and skill to swing in the front row.
Halsey Brumitt Halsey Brumitt 5'11" | OH Clackamas | 2023 State OR
36 → 23
Height: 5’11”
Position: OH
High School: Clackamas High School
Club: Athena Volleyball Club 18-1 National
Honors: Mt. Hood Second Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Brumitt went from playing three-rotations as a right-side sophomore season for Clackamas High School to a starting six-rotation outside hitter as a junior. With Lukovich transferring to Nelson, the Cavaliers needed Brumitt to take on a bigger offensive load, and that she did. She became an integral part of the lineup for the Cavaliers, brought steady play to the back row, and took big swings in the front row. She competes at a high level during club season, playing for Athena 18-1 Gold this season.
Kendra Bittle Kendra Bittle 6'1" | MB Crater | 2023 State OR
65 → 25
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 6’1”
Position: MB
High School: Crater High School
Club: Spikeown Volleyball Club
Honors: Midwestern First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Bittle is another player included in the initial rankings given the teams she was competing on, but I had not been able to see her in action until club season this past year when she was playing for Spiketown 17-1. A high-level, athletic, and explosive middle blocker, Bittle showed her dominance and moved up to #25, and the #3 middle blocker for Oregon. She can also be seen putting up a big block and taking big swings on the right side.
Jillian Stein Jillian Stein 5'8" | OH Bend | 2023 State OR
103 →30
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’8”
Position: OH
High Schol: Bend High School
Club: North Pacific Juniors 181 National
Honors: Mountain Valley Honorable Mention
Why the rise?
Stein has shown significant improvement over the past seasons and has become a lethal six-rotation outside attacker. She was an integral part of the team’s success this season for Bend High School, helping them finish 3rd in the 6A State tournament. She brought forth smart attacking and steady ball control to the Lava Bears. Making the NPJ Bend 18-1 National this season, it will be exciting to watch her play with a very competitive group of athletes from the Bend area.
Tatum Chase Tatum Chase 6'1" | MB Catlin Gabel | 2023 State OR
58 → 32
Height: 6’1”
Position: MB
High School: Catlin Gabel School
Club: Athena Volleyball Club 17-1 National
Honors: Lewis & Clark Honorable Mention (2020)
Why the rise?
Chase’s improvement over the past year and a half has been significant and has not gone unnoticed. Having physically grown a few inches, and making the move to a more competitive club her sophomore season, has helped Chase become one of the more dominant middle blockers in the State. Sadly, she was out a majority of high school season with an ankle injury, but has been cleared and is ready to go for club season, competing with Athena 17-1. Chase received her first collegiate offer to play for Seattle University earlier this year, the first of many I am sure.
Desi Tupau
66 → 43
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’9”
Position: OH
High Schol: Siuslaw High School
Club: Webfoot Jrs 18-1 National
Honors: Sky Em First Team All-League (2021)
Why the rise?
Tupau continues to show her versatility and all-around skill season after season. For Siuslaw High School, she is an all-around middle blocker, and has taken on a huge load offensively and defensively for the Vikings. She helped them advance to the quarterfinals, dropping the match to the runner-up’s Sisters. Tupau made the Webfoot 18-1 National team this season, along with eight other 2023 athletes. You will more than likely find her on the pins for club season.
Alycia Wilson Alycia Wilson 5'10" | OH Central Catholic | 2023 State OR
75 → 42
[ Link to recruiting profile ]
Height: 5’10”
Position OH
High School: Central Catholic High School
Club: Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy
Honors: Mt. Hood Honorable Mention
Why the rise?
Wilson has shown great improvement to her game over the past year and a half. A high-flying and explosive pin hitter, when Wilson connects with the ball it is deadly. She really learned how to harness her power on the attack, and knows when to slow it down with a tip or shot. She was a vital part of OJVA 16-2 Blue #3 finish in the CEVA region.