State Tournament Class 4A Players to Watch
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The 4A tournament has 16 of the best teams in the state squaring off this weekend for the championship trophy at the Yakima SunDome. Last year’s champion Bothell was not able to make it through the District playoffs to defend…
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Continue ReadingThe 4A tournament has 16 of the best teams in the state squaring off this weekend for the championship trophy at the Yakima SunDome. Last year’s champion Bothell was not able to make it through the District playoffs to defend their title, so it will be a new champ regardless this year. Here are some of the top players to keep an eye on as their teams push for a championship trophy.
The Lake Stevens libero is part of a talented Vikings squad that has matched up with some of the best teams in the state already this year. The #4 seed overall, Lake Stevens is paced defensively by Kelly in the back row, and the junior dynamo can take her area and work into the middle back. Her reads are impressive, she has a sense of being in the right place for tips and roll shots, and delivers passes that setter Katelyn Eichert Katelyn Eichert 5’8″ | S Lake Stevens | 2024 State WA dishes with tempo to the skilled Lake Stevens attackers.
Highlights
Rylie Dolven
Rylie Dolven
The MCC MVP this season, Dolven controls the offense for the Braves, and they ran through the Mid Columbia with a 15-2 mark. Part of a strong 2024 class that includes outside Payton Arland and middle Jule Whitley, Dolven has soft hands and good location, and most importantly leads the team and keeps the Kamiakin side organized and efficient. Its a tough first round match up for the Braves against #3 seed Mount Rainier and Dolven will need a monster game to secure a place in the quarter finals.
Alani Taliloa
Alani Taliloa
The Rams are 18-2 heading into the tournament and only have losses to Puyallup and North Creek, the #1 and #2 seeds. Alani has a heavy arm swing, and has brought it all season long while staying efficient as an outside hitter. She has produced 265 kills while keeping her hitting % at .388. That’s an awesome number for an outside, much less a sophomore at the 4A level. For the Rams to push into the top spot, they will need Taliloa to rack up kills at a high rate while keeping errors low like she has all season.
Ava Jo Berry
Ava Jo Berry
Berry has played both setter and libero this season at a high level, and the defense she plays is outstanding regardless of the position. Quick, strong and athletic, she is dynamic when she sets, and has set up a group of Wenatchee attackers that are a mix of experience and youth. The Panthers are the #6 seed, and after an early season loss to West Valley Yakima twice beat the Rams decisively. Berry was the setter at the Crossover Classic in Spokane where Wenatchee excelled, dropping only to 3A power Mt. Spokane in a prolonged battle. A win in the first round leads to a possible quarterfinal match against Mt. Rainier, a terrific #3 vs #6 tilt.
Graham-Kapowsin is powerful, and they are led by senior Brockway a Illinois State commit. She can do it all as an outside hitter, and although she thunders the ball, her overall volleyball IQ, touch and feel are just as impressive. She is a hard match up from the service line, her float serve has tremendous pace and she likes to rip it into the seams. Many of the Eagles scoring runs happen with her serving, and she plays outstanding defense and opens up the GK attack from the back row. Brockway is a great player looking to end her high school career with a trophy, the Eagles will be as fired up as anyone in the SunDome.
Moran has put together a great season as the counter punch to Kyleene Filimaua Kyleene Filimaua 6’1″ | OH North Creek | 2023 State #185 Nation WA , but she is a top shelf attacker in her own right. Working on the right side, she has ripped the ball at opponents, posting a hitting percentage over .300 and helping North Creek to a #2 seed and undefeated season so far. The Jaguars are looking to cap a historic season with a state title and will be counting on setter Mariah Young to run the offense and find the right matchups for her hitters, something she has excelled at this season.
Highlights
Dani Brown may be the difference maker if Puyallup faces North Creek for the championship, if the seed hold the #1 Viking and #2 Jaguars would see each other in the finals. Brown is long and skilled, the junior middle will be playing in the WCC, she has committed to Santa Clara. Surrounded by excellent players all over the court, matching up and keying on Brown is a tough task, and if you don’t she can make you pay with a big time kill that can change the momentum of a match. Her blocking is special, and makes opponents account for her, if not change their game entirely. Puyallup is undefeated, and they want to keep that perfect record intact and end the season as champions.