1A State Final Four Top Performers
The teams making up the final four of the WIAA 1A semi-finals were built differently, but each possessed exceptional players that pushed them to the top of the 1A ranks. Annie Wright had two dominant middles, Cascade Christian has long-term…
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Continue ReadingThe teams making up the final four of the WIAA 1A semi-finals were built differently, but each possessed exceptional players that pushed them to the top of the 1A ranks. Annie Wright had two dominant middles, Cascade Christian has long-term staying power with just one senior on the roster. Lynden Christian was consistent and had tough, long, mobile athletes all over the court. Ultimately the experience, talent, and winning DNA of Chelan proved to be overwhelming, and the Mountain Goats took home a third straight 1st place trophy.
Reganne Arnold
Reganne Arnold
The Lyncs are a 1A volleyball and basketball powerhouse, and the team has not finished out of the top six in volleyball for nine straight seasons. Six seniors powered the team, and Arnold was a standout in the SunDome. She posted 25 digs and 11 kills in the third place winning match, and showed a nice variety of shots from the front and back rows. Freshman Allison Wright is a 6’0 middle with great movement who will help anchor the team next season.
Gracelynn Zetterburg
Gracelynn Zetterburg
This team is incredibly young, with major contributors that are sophomores and freshman. In the middle, Zetterburg is excellent on 50/50 joust plays, she goes up strong with two hands and more than often wins the pint. She also showed a nice range of attacks, finding the corners and not just trying to hit straight through blocks. Layne Dent is the sophomore headliner on the outside, but she has major support with Zetterburg, freshman Jenica Walling and Sophie Janho, and sophomore setter Ryann Fortenberry all set to return.
Strandberg is headed to Florida Atlantic to play beach next year, and the Mountain Goats will need to find a way to replace a player who in the three years she had a chance, only finished 1st in the state. Another four seniors from the team pulled off the feat with her, each one an excellent player in their own right. Focusing on Strandberg defensively, she is a very good blocker, and in the middle back has a great sense of balls heading in or out. She can take balls overhand easily, and feeds the setter with nice tempo. In the championship match her explosiveness as an attacker shined, setter Juliana Perez fed her the ball in great locations, including the slide. Chelan will have 6 juniors, and big time freshman attacker Brynn Hughbanks returning.
Malia Oden
Malia Oden
Oden is a determined blocker with excellent size and fundamentals at the net. The multi-sport athlete has quick feet and good eye work, she will get out and make it tough on opposing pin hitters. Setters dumping and back row attackers have to be aware of her good timing and strong hands, if its in her area it might get roofed. In the championship match against Chelan she was active on offense, and found ways to score throughout against a very good Mountain Goat defense.. Expect a major senior year form here next season.
Sofia Rader
Sofia Rader
Rader has great size for a libero at 5’9 and that lets her get to some balls in the corners and punch balls up that a shorter defender might miss. She is a solid passer in serve receive, which is always the first priority for a libero, but her best attribute is a determination to hang in and pass hard swings on target. The Lynden Christian attackers benefited from her ability to keep the ball off the deck and and stay alive in transition.