Red Rock Rave: Washington Middles in the Open
In this article:
Weekend two of the Red Rock Rave includes elite teams from Washington competing against some of the best teams in the West for USAV Championship bids. The Open Division is a fierce test, and athletes will be placed in matchups…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWeekend two of the Red Rock Rave includes elite teams from Washington competing against some of the best teams in the West for USAV Championship bids. The Open Division is a fierce test, and athletes will be placed in matchups against high major Division 1 college prospects and commits. Here are several Washington middle blockers that will present matchup problems for the opposing teams in the Open Division this weekend.
Athena 17 Gold will be pushing hard to make an impact in the Open at the Red Rock Rave, high major prospect Andrew is a force Athena’s opponents will be hard-pressed to counter. She is a skilled player overall, able to attack from the pins and the middle or step in and accurately bump set a second ball. The 6’5 junior is an excellent server, and will willingly play gritty defense in the back row when she is at the service line.
The Central Washington-bound senior has continued to elevate her play for the CPA 18 Nicole team. Westby has played multiple positions as an attacker, and CPA has moved her around to keep defenses off balance. She continues to be an elite scorer from the middle blocker spot, with a quick powerful swing and the vision to avoid the block. The Spokane-based College Prep Academy squad will be immediately tested with a tough opening pool that includes Mizuno Long Beach, AZ Rev, and a Texas Tornadoes Adidas team from the Lone Star region.
Yount has a tireless work ethic on the court and hustles to close the block pin to pin. The Seattle Volleyball Academy 16-1 team is going to be tested competing in the 16 Open in Vegas, and the sophomore from Kennedy Catholic is a big part of the team’s success so far. Yount is a strong two-player, with the ability to score in transition and deliver a stuff block to change the momentum of a match.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16793863/635a01ce5ef73a0caca9a8a9
A UCSB verbal commit, the junior out of Seattle Prep continues to develop into a terminal attacker in the middle. Bosnac is flying to the pin on the slide attack, and the Dakine 17 Surf setters are doing an excellent job locating her in quality matchups. Her length causes issues for opposing attackers, and Bosnac is working hard to read the setter and hitters and close the block.
Olsen is a 2023 athlete who touches over ten feet and is out of Washougal, WA right on the border between Washington and Oregon. She shines as a blocker, with good length and an impressive vertical that produces an excellent press across the net. With good foot speed in transition, Olsen takes an aggressive approach and will hammer the ball off the block or to an open spot to score. A high ceiling player who should be on college coaches’ radar!
McEllrath is a physically imposing middle for a talented Athena 17 team. She is part of the Ridgefield Spudder MB duo with her teammate Elizabeth Andrew Elizabeth Andrew 6’5″ | MB Ridgefield | 2024 State #6 Nation WA and has a great feel for the game. McEllrath is high energy and active as a blocker and attacker, she has strong hands and is an aggressive shot-maker. Defenses don’t get a rest when either Andrew or McEllrath is in, both players can score and present problems as blockers.