Season Preview: 1A Teams To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chelan will be looking to make it a three-peat in 2022, having won the state title in 2109 and 2021, with no state tournament being played in 2020. It will be a tall task for any other of the 1A contenders to upset the Lady Goats, who boast a returning player of the year, and ten returners overall. Of course, there is a season and a state tournament to play, and upsets happen. These three teams have serious title aspirations as well and have enough great players to play with Chelan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHELAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olivia Strandberg</strong> is the returning player of the year in 1A and is the go-to player when the Lady Goats need a big point. Her senior experience will be a tremendous boost for the squad, and the senior outside hitter will be striving to leave the program having never finished out of first place in the state! <strong>Josie Garfoot</strong> returns in one middle blocker spot and <strong>Juliana Perez</strong> is a great setter who brings excellent leadership to the team; she provides the attackers with great chances to score. <strong>Kira Sandoval</strong> is a tremendous option along the front line and <strong>Sasha Dandridge </strong>may be just as skilled as Strandberg and has a heavy arm attacking from the outside. The Chelan one-two punch on the outside may be the best in the state at the 1A level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/HupE8YtemD8","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/HupE8YtemD8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHARLES WRIGHT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After an opening round loss in 4 sets to meridian, Charles Wright won three straight to finish with a trophy. The team returns height, skill, and nine out of eleven players in their search to finish above the 7th place spot this year. <strong>Emma Wang</strong> has great size and skill as a middle for the Tarriers, a great player the team can build around. <strong>Whitney Van Gorkum</strong> is the other middle for the squad, she led the team in total blocks last season. <strong>Natalie Piasecki</strong> is the leading attacker back in the fold, is an excellent server, and also sets. <strong>Kate Piasecki</strong> led the team in assists, aces, and digs and is tremendous all around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12285047/Whitney-Van-Gorkom">https://www.hudl.com/profile/12285047/Whitney-Van-Gorkom</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FREEMAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ava Semprimoznik </strong>will be taking over the setter duties for the departed <strong>Abbie Amend</strong> and is ready to step into an energy and leadership role for the Scotties, It should be a breakout year for the rising junior. <strong>Aspyn Reed </strong>has the bounce to make plays on the outside and is versatile enough to swing from any position along the front row. Senior <strong>Olivia Campbell</strong> leads an experienced defense from the libero position and will have help from 6'2, athletic middle <strong>Jaycee Goldsmith</strong>, the sweet-swinging lefty right side <strong>Cameron LaMotte</strong>, and versatile <strong>Drew Crowley. </strong>Crowley is an athletic defender and attacker with quality length. The Scotties are experienced and deep and looking for a top-three finish in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/boNgmYSbwjM","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/boNgmYSbwjM </div><figcaption>Aspyn Reed </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MERIDIAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's always a winning formula to have coaches' kids, on the volleyball court; they have been around the game their entire life and typically have an excellent feel for the action. The Trojans have that covered with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493150' first='Emry' last='Claeys']</strong> and <strong>Hayden Claeys</strong>, both back for head coach Shannon Claeys. Emry is outside with excellent all-around skills, and she will be fed the ball by Hayden, a senior setter and leader of the Meridian offense. <strong>Avery Neal</strong> is an all-state performer from the libero spot, and has good size for the position, helping her cover the court. <strong>Jessica Pounder</strong> returns at one middle blocker spot, and the senior will be shouldering more of the offensive load this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/e6wrMIjrj70","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/e6wrMIjrj70 </div><figcaption>Avery Neal </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->