Big Game Previews: Puyallup/Curtis, Mt Spokane/Cheney

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state rankings are continuing to evolve, with top teams honing their games a month out from district and state tournaments. Diving in to two major matchups happening this week, with a showdown between ranked teams on Wednesday, undefeated Puyallup traveling to 14-2 Curtis in a league battle. East of the mountains, Cheney is ranked and looking to stay that way traveling to perennial power Mt. Spokane Thursday night. Here is a look at the teams and some of the players to watch in the matchups this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CURTIS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings are going to have a chance to prove themselves heading into the postseason. Along with Puyallup, Graham-Kapowsin and Emerald Ridge both remain on the regular season schedule. At 14-2, they have handled all the matches they should win, and have only dropped decisions to Puyallup and Graham-Kapowsin so far. They have a chance to avenge both defeats, starting this week at home. Setter <strong>Peyton Ensign</strong> will team with outside hitter and sister<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='97266' first='Ella' last='Ensign']</strong> to lead the offense, freshman <strong>Selena Morales</strong> has been an absolute wall on the right side, and <strong>Avery Cukjati</strong> is dynamite serving and defending in the back row. Here are two more dynamic players for Curtis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634367fbd34d7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tatyana Tauese Paulino","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Curtis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dakine","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Let's talk defense in this matchup. Paulino is a fun player to watch, she has a flair for the big save and can bump set pin to pin. She is a leader from the service line as well for the Vikings, with a sidewinding sinker that tails away from the passers. The athletic Paulino covers her hitters well and can chase down balls off the court and deliver on target, allowing Curtis to manufacture swings out of system.rnrnhttps://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/tatyana_tauese_paulino","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Ariana Medchill","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Curtis","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Dakine Beach","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A standout on the beach, Medchill is athletic and has that great vision and volleyball IQ that comes from time in the sand. As an outside, she has a soft tip, can hammer the ball to the back line, and easily plays balls on defense. Curtis likes to slide her down the middle for a 2 ball, letting her use her feel to move her attack around the block.rnrnhttp://www.hudl.com/v/2JQauS","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PUYALLUP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Undefeated, imposing across the front line, and loaded with skill at every position, these Vikings are staking a claim as the top team in 4A, and possibly the state period. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230155' first='Danielle' last='Brown']</strong> handles the middle, and recently committed to Santa Clara. The rest of the pins and middles are standouts as well. <strong>Hollis Downing</strong> brings 6'3 length and a great block,<strong> Ivy Vinivich</strong> is a senior outside leading the team in kills, and lefty <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192532' first='Rylie' last='Hangca']</strong> is covered below. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='220494' first='reese' last='sheppard'] will run the offense, we take a more in-depth look at sister Sophia, a senior libero below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63438212d34da","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["192532"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hangca can score from the left pin as well as the right, but having her at opposite really lets Puyallup take advantage of her sweet left handed swing. She has a quick set-up in transition, so she presents her self well as an option, and can hit line or power equally well. This season she has busted out defensively, sitting second on the team in digs.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/RylieH11u0022u003ehttps://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/RylieH11u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["187042"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The senior libero is headed to University Texas El-Paso, and the Miners are getting a good one. Sheppard is quick, has tremendous accuracy setting the second ball, and like any great libero is assertive and controls the defense for Puyallup. She can hang in and deliver a good pass against hard attacks, and will read and cover on tips . She is always in the middle of the action, giving the offense accurate passes and digs to work with.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634381edd34d9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHENEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just their second season as a 3A Greater Spokane League member, Cheney has put together a 7-3 start to their season, led by a senior and junior-laden roster. <strong>Ryann Robbins</strong> is a go-to player on the outside for sparkplug setter<strong> Haleigh Ghering</strong>, and <strong>Joy Akkonsen </strong>is an unrealized jumping jack with a powerful swing who loves to play the game. The team that shares a town with the Eastern Washington Eagles is looking for the big win that can propel them to an upper-division finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634389aad34dc","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sophie Coffin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cheney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Renovators","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Coffin delivers for the team in serve receive, letting the other Blackhawk defenders rest easy while she passes tough serves and delivers on target digs to keep the offense in the flow. She has been working hard on using angles to pass balls outside her midline, and that consistent, fundamental form shows up. Always quick to the ground after a tip or cover, the former gymnast is really excelling making the show stopping save this season.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://rsascouting.com/recruits/sophie-coffin/u0022u003ehttps://rsascouting.com/recruits/sophie-coffin/u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Navi Islam-Zwart","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Cheney","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Renovators","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Islam-Zwart has a nice touch and great hands around the net, she has played setter before and it shows when she is in the middle for the Blackhawks. The skillful senior is adept at scoring, and she can control the ball with a well-placed tip, or hammer a shot around the opposing middle blocker. Against Lewis and Clark, she worked the back corners on quicks and went hard angle running a three. Setter Ghering makes it a point to find the 6'1 middle early and often!rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://youtu.be/6M6EXtn6IxAu0022u003ehttps://youtu.be/6M6EXtn6IxAu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MT. SPOKANE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can count on a few different things in Spokane during the fall, maybe you can't wait for that pumpkin doughnut up at Green Bluff, or you may just prefer the Wildcats clawing their way to the top of the GSL. Either way, you are going to get it every October. Some of the names have changed, but the quality remains the same, and now it's a matter of making sure that the rest of the league, including upstart Cheney and long-time rival Mead later this month, get the message. Silky smooth <strong>Lani Ama</strong> at setter, steady <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='97270' first='Maggie' last='Degenhart']</strong> on the outside, feisty libero <strong>Willow Almquist </strong>and bouncy <strong>Karissa Linder</strong> in the middle are the experienced senior leaders. Here are some other players contributing mightily this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63438d88d34de","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mia Bontrager","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mt Spokane","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bontrager is a state-qualifying golfer for the Wildcats as well, and the links may be her destination at the next level. She is invaluable on the volleyball court, however, freeing up Ama to swing when the Wildcats put the 6-2 in play. She also is a weapon serving, mixing hard pace and soft short serves to keep the defense guessing. Bontrager has strong hands and can push the ball to the pin taking advantage of the versatile 'Cats hitters. Location is her forte, something we would expect to see from someone used to lining up putts in crunch time.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jordyn Williams","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Mt Spokane","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"College Prep Academy VB","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Williams continues to grow in her role as a primary part of the offense for Mt Spokane. Having played middle at times, she has settled in and become a force from both pins. She has a great sense of attacking the block, and she showed it against Ridgeline last week. She tooled high hands and powered through late middles when she had the chance. Always versatile, and an excellent sand player, she makes the right play defensively and can probably play any position on the court in an emergency.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->