Platinum #3: 2025 Stellar Setters

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 16U age bracket the teams in attendance were: NPJ Salem 16-1 National (CE), OJVA 16-1 Gold (CE), Athena 16-1 Gold (CE)*, Excel 16 Rox (CE), SIVBC 16-1 Thunder (PS), Puget Sound 15 Navy (PS), Dakine 16 Surf (PS), and NPJ Seattle 16-1 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_196465" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-196465 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/IMG-3673-e1653014835811-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Gina Salang, NPJ Photographer[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="161872" first="Maile" last="Salang"], 5’8”, S, McNary High School, North Pacific Juniors Salem 16 National <a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/MaileS11">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> Salang is in the setter rotation for the North Pacific Juniors 16 National team. While setter 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126167" first="Taylor" last="DeTrant"] is the primary setter, Salang gets into the line-up often. She has experience running both a 6-2 with Detrant and will even run a 5-1 at times. An absolute athlete, trying her hand at softball, basketball, and track and field on top of volleyball, her athleticism shines through on the court. She does an exceptional job getting her hands on the ball, rarely relying on her platform to dish out sets. Given Salangs rapid improvement over the past season, she is a definite player to watch over the coming seasons. Salang spent the high school season on the Junior Varsity team for the McNary High School Celtics. She was voted Most Inspirational Player by her team and was a Celtic Awardee (coaches Most Valuable Player selection). Salang is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2025. WASHINGTON —————— [caption id="attachment_196344" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-196344" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/Kendall-Mairs-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Excel NW[/caption] Kendall Mairs, 5’11”, S/OH, Camas High School, Excel 16 Rox <a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/washington/camas/camas-high-school/kendall-mairs1">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> Mairs is one of those rare athletes who has launched herself to the top of her class in such a short amount of time given her insane athleticism and work ethic. Her first season playing club ball was 8th grade, so last year during the shortened COVID season. This season would be her second season on a club team and she is already playing at an insanely high level. Prior to volleyball, she was an avid basketball player, but due to the pandemic opportunities to play basketball were incredibly limited. Luckily for us, volleyball was a sport that was not as impacted as some so she was able to really hone in on her volleyball skills. During her first season of club ball, she played primarily outside hitter. However, she is an athlete with natural setting abilities, so she began to work on this skill. The hard work paid off as she is now the primary setter for the Excel 16 Rox team. And make note that she is the only freshman on the team. When she isn’t setting, her attacking is explosive, from anywhere on the court. Mairs is rarely seen off the court, as she is such an integral part to the team’s success. Given her athleticism, rapid improvement and solid all-around skill, Mairs is well on her way to being a highly sought-after recruit coming out of the state of Washington. She is one to keep your eyes on for sure. Mairs had a breakout freshman season for the Camas High School Papermakers. As the only freshman to make the squad and coming in as an outside hitter, Mairs saw her opportunity to play at that position to be limited playing behind senior [player_tooltip player_id="97286" first="Emmy" last="Hansen"] (St. Martin’s commit) and junior [player_tooltip player_id="97311" first="Cami" last="Young"]. So she honed in on her setting skills to make her way into the starting line up and the Papermakers found Mairs to be indispensable. Her play was vital in the team’s 5th place finish at the State tournament. For her play, she was awarded Greater St. Helens First Team All-League, Most Valuable Player for her team, and Class 4A First Team All-State as a setter. Mairs is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2025. Maddie Taitano, 5’8”, S, Bellarmine Preparatory School, Puget Sound 15 Navy <a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/MaddieT15">[ Link to recruiting profile ]</a> Taitano can be seen running a 6-2 alongside 2026 Maya Quitiquit for the PS 15 Navy team. Taitano prides herself on competing with the Puget Sound club since she started playing at 9-years old. This consistent training has paid off as she has been on the most competitive teams for PSVBA season after season. Taitano is an athletic setter and does a good job with set choice selection. With her continued improvement, she has the potential to be a stellar setter coming out of the state of Washington. Taitano spent the high school season on the Junior Varsity team for the Bellarmine Preparatory School Lions. Taitano is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2025.