Platinum #3: 2023 Amazing Attackers

The Platinum tournament is the best of the best in Oregon and Washington, competing for the #1 seed in the Pacific Northwest. The Puget Sound region and the Columbia Empire region each send their top four 16U and top four 18U teams to compete, so a total of eight teams in each age bracket. First playing in a pool and then in a small bracket, one team will come out on top. One team from each region's age bracket will drop down, allowing for one team to move up and compete. There will be a few more Platinum tournaments taking place later on that we will be covering as well. In the 18U age bracket the teams in attendance were: NPJ 18-1 Forefront (CE), OJVA 17-1 Gold (CE), Athena 17-1 Gold (CE)*, Excel 18 Rox (CE), SIVBC 18-1 Tsunami (PS), Oly Reign 18-1 (PS), Dakine 17 Surf (PS), and NPJ Seattle 18-1 National (PS). All teams competed and great volleyball was played. To recap the tournament, we will be highlighting some standout players in their respective position and class. In order to cover a new group of athletes, if you were spotlighted in the first Platinum series, you will not be spotlighted in this series. *Athena teams were at another travel tournament and did not compete in Platinum #3. OREGON —————— [caption id="attachment_137223" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-137223" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/03/sofia-cooper-headshot-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Coach[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91328" first="Sofia" last="Cooper"], 6'0”, OH/RS, Central Catholic High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17 Gold <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJrTw_tFJMO_O3zBXr9QGQ">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> Cooper is a utility attacker for the OJVA 17 Gold team with an ability to play any position across the front row. She has solidified herself as a major asset to the group, ready to jump on the court whenever called upon. At the last Platinum tournament, she was seen playing opposite 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91306" first="Sophie" last="Gregoire-Salagean"] on the outside, allowing 2024 Lauren Dreves to play on the right side. On the attack, she has a mean sharp angle she likes to utlilize. She brings consistent play to the court for this team. Her blocking has shown significant improvement. Cooper is a three-year varsity returner for the Central Catholic High School Rams, a powerhouse program in the State of Oregon. The past two seasons she has been the starting middle blocker for the Rams. Her play was critical in the team's first-place finish in the Mt. Hood Conference and fourth place in the 6A State tournament. She was awarded Mt. Hood First Team All-League. Cooper is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023. WASHINGTON —————— Brooke Huard, 5'9”, OH, Bellevue High School, Sudden Impact 18 Thunder Committed: the University of Washington Huard is the only 2023 on the roster for the SIVBC 18 Thunder team and took on a major load at the Platinum tournament. With only six players in attendance, everyone had to play all around, some playing totally out of position. Because of this, Huard was relied on to bring steady ball control and a solid attack on the pins. She is an explosive attacker with an inanely high vertical jump. She has a high reach on the ball with an ability to put the ball away from anywhere on the court. Huard is a three-year Varsity starter for the Bellevue High School Knights, and a team captain. She shoulders a big load for the team. Her play was crucial in the team's first-place finish in the 3A Wesco League. She was awarded KingCo First Team All-League as well as 3A All-State Honorable Mention. Langley Griffin, 6'0”, OH, Peninsula High School, Oly Reign 18-1 Committed: University of Utah (Sand) Griffin is a six-rotation outside attacker for the Oly Reign 18-1 team. A major impact player for the team, she is a definite go-to attacker and shoulders a major offensive load. With smart placement, a lethal line shot, and a fast arm swing, she is unstoppable on the pin. A highly competitive, year-round, sand player, this translates well to her court game. She showcases impeccable all-around skills and maintains a high volleyball IQ. Griffin is a three-year varsity starter for the Peninsula High School Seahawks. A vital aspect of the lineup for the Seahawks, her play helped the team advance to the 3A State finals. For her play, she was awarded South Sound Most Valuable Player, South Sound First Team All-League, and 3A First TeamAll-State. Ellie Marble, 6'0”, OH, La Conner High School, North Pacific Juniors Seattle 17 National Committed: Central Washington University Marble has solidified herself as a top athlete coming out of the state of Washington in her respective class. The six-rotation outside hitter is a go-to attacker for the NPJ Seattle 17 National team. With Kylenee Filimaua (Florida State commit), not in attendance for this past Platinum tournament, all eyes were on Marble. She has exceptional all-around skills and brings a lethal swing to the outside pin. Marble is a three-year varsity starter and a team captain for the La Conner High School Braves. As a six-rotation outside hitter, her play was vital in the Braves claiming the 2B State championship. For her play, she was awarded Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year, 2B Player of the Year, 2B First Team All-State, Northwest League MVP, and Northwest First Team All-League. Jaelyn Moeva, 5'11”, RS/MB, Auburn Riverside High School, North Pacific Juniors Seattle 17 National <a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/JaelynM10">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> With this only being Moeva's third season of club volleyball, her improvement has been rapid, to say the least. The starting middle blocker for the NPJ Seattle 17 National team, Moeva puts up a solid block and moves well laterally to close. On the attack, she is quick and does a good job making herself available in transition. The improvements made to her game have launched her to the top of her class and is well on her way to being a highly sought-after recruit for the class of 2023. Moeva is a two-year varsity starter for the Auburn Riverside High School Ravens. Her play at the net helped the Ravens finish 4th in the 3A State tournament. She was awarded North Puget Sound Second Team All-League for her play. Moeva is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023. Rae Wartelle, 6'1”, RS/MB, Annie Wright High School, Dakine 17 Surf Wartelle is the primary right-side attacker for the Dakine 17 Surf team. Often an overlooked position, Wartelle makes her presence known on the court. She puts up an impressive block, oftentimes shutting down the opponent's primary attackers. When given the opportunity to attack, she proves fairly unstoppable. She does a good job mixing up her attack location, keeping opponents at the ready. Wartelle is a three-year varsity starter for the Annie Wright High School Gators. Her play helped the Gators capture the 4th place trophy at the 1A State tournament, the highest finish in program history. She was awarded Nisqually First Team All-League and 1A First Team All-State for her play this past season. Wartelle is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023. [player_tooltip player_id="97311" first="Cami" last="Young"], 5'9”, OH, Camas High School, Excel NW 18 Rox <a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/washington/camas/camas-high-school/cami-young">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> Young is an athletic outside attacker for the Excel NW Rox team, playing opposite 2022 standout [player_tooltip player_id="97213" first="Rylie" last="Reeves"]. She jumps out of the gym with an explosive approach and a hammer of an arm swing. Across the back row, she brings steady ball control on defense and serve receive. This was Young's first season on the Varsity squad for the Camas High School Papermakers. Her play was beneficial in the team's 5th place finish in the 4A State tournament. Young is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023. Plenty More Names to Know! The list of standouts from Platinum #3 just keeps going: Friley Curtis - 6'1" OH - Mount Si High School - North Pacific Juniors Seattle 17 National [player_tooltip player_id="97310" first="Drew" last="Eggleston"] - 6'0" OH/RS - Union High School - Excel NW 18 Rox Isabella Grant - 5'10" MB - Olympia High School - Oly Regin 18-1 Kendall Hastings - 6'2" MB - Olympic High School - Dakine 17 Surf Paige Houghtelling - 5'10” OH/RS - Mossyrock High School - Oly Reign 18-1 [player_tooltip player_id="97313" first="Ella" last="Schoene"] - 6'1" RS - LaCenter High School - Excel NW 18 Rox [player_tooltip player_id="97260" first="Ivy" last="Vindivich"] - 5'11" OH - Puyallup High School - Dakine 17 Surf