Washington Attackers at the Far Western Classic
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The last weekend of April is a packed schedule for volleyball players and fans. The Far Western Classic is the last qualifier of the season, and Washington has sent a solid group of teams to compete with the best in…
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Continue ReadingThe last weekend of April is a packed schedule for volleyball players and fans. The Far Western Classic is the last qualifier of the season, and Washington has sent a solid group of teams to compete with the best in the country and on the West Coast in particular. Two major 18’s tournaments are happening this weekend as well, the USAV GJNC and The Emperors Cup, a brand new 18’s Championship in Las Vegas. Here are some pin hitters to put on your radar as the Far Western tournament rolls into its final day.
Merritt is skilled as a back line passer, SIVBC has played her in serve receive as a back row sub at times. She is nimble and has the ability to change her platform angle and giver her setter an accurate pass. It’s not that often that a 6’1 outside hitter subs in to pass three rotations in the back row in 16U, but Merritt gets it done. Offensively she can drop the hammer, she is strong and can really crank it to the angle or down the line.
Highlights
The 2026 outside from Prairie packs some serious punch in her swing. Cameron has a powerful, aggressive approach that creates a tremendous amount of velocity, blockers are constantly watching the ball ping-pong out of bounds or to the floor off their hands. She plays with passion and emotion that you don’t always see in a freshman, her team feeds off it and looks to Cameron to take the big swings with the match on the line. A great athlete who can terminate from the pin-the Falcons have a good one!
Highlights
McCraw has played this season on the outside, showing a high contact point and a heavy arm swing that generates topspin. At the Pacific Northwest Qualifier in Spokane, she featured some off-speed shots when out of the system , creating points with a well-disguised roll to the middle of the court. SVA setters keep all of their hitters involved and focused, the team is creative in how and when they spread the sets around. McCraw has an excellent chance to step into a big role at Kennedy Catholic as a junior this upcoming season.
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Gabriella Thompson
Gabriella Thompson
The freshman from Camas is a talented multi-sport athlete who can jump out of the gym. She is long and lean, with an exploding arm swing that generates points at a rapid clip for her Excel NW team. At 6’0” already, she may have some growing left, and that will only create a higher contact point for Thompson. Check out the swing below from the Matt Hartner Classic, Camas opponents should have her on their radar for the next three years!
OJVA 17 Gold has played an extremely competitive high-level schedule this season. Dreves has been up to the challenge, finding high hands, getting on top of sets off the net to score to the corner, and ripping line while showing angle to confuse the block. She has an all-around game and her experience allows her to read the action at a high level. The team has a great mix of top-level players, the group is fun to watch and Dreves is a big part of it with her athletic play and arm swing.
Sydney Dreves Sydney Dreves 5’11” | OH Columbia River | 2025 State #80 Nation WA