Final Four Standouts: 4A State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams battled their way to the semi-finals of the 4A State Tournament at the Yakima Sundome on Saturday. Lake Stevens, Olympia, North Creek, and Wenatchee won two straight matches Friday to earn their spots and a chance to move to the finals. Wenatchee and North Creek ultimately met in the final and the Panthers secured the championship in 5 sets. The four squads had incredible performers all over the court, we cover eight players from the teams here, featuring highly ranked prospects and players making their mark on the big stage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["249189"],"_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":"Berry ran the Panthers offense to the hilt at the Sun Dome, and the Wenatchee setter displayed the fire and leadership needed from a championship level player. Fearless at the net, Berry challenged taller players on jousts and attacks, winning points and keeping her team's energy high. Her defense and movement is top tier and she found her hitters in favorable matchups all over the court. She is one of the state's ranked players at the setter position and continues to deliver wins for both her school and club teams.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a3e4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222799"],"_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":"The Eastern Washington University commit finished off a dominant senior season in style with a runner up finish at the Sun Dome and a league MVP award. The 4th ranked OH continues to improve as a complete six-rotation player and terminal pin, finishing off games and matches with gutsy swings for the Jaguars during the season and the state tournament. Expect Moran to be an impact player for Eastern during her years in Cheney.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a43f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["231549"],"_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":"The Sun Dome crowd was buzzing as the Lake Stevens sophomore blistered kills from the pin and the pipe, and displayed the form that has her top ranked in the 2026 class. Eichert showed improvement in all phases of the game from her freshman season, finding more seams as a hitter and increasing her range and feel as a defender. Wenatchee proved to be a foil for the Vikings, handing them a loss in late non-league matchup as well as in the semi-finals in four games. As expected, Lake Stevens improved in the second match up, pushing the Panthers in Yakima much more than in the initial meeting in Wenatchee. Eichert was fearless in her play all tournament, challenging blockers and putting up big numbers on the top teams in the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a490"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245154"],"_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":"The senior outside for Olympia is able to do it all on the court. At 6'2, Byers has the leverage and length to kill the ball at all angles, and her beach background and time spent setting help make her a complete player in her six-rotation role. Byers is an all-timer for the Bears, and her precision and shot making as an attacker was on display at the Sun Dome. She ripped shots from the pipe and from all across the front line, all while holding down the middle back in fine fashion. She will move on to a beach career for coaches and sand legends Todd Rodgers and Angela Rock at Cal Poly.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a4da"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["251033"],"_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":"Finding multiple , consistent defenders and passers is critical when you have one of the top outsides in the state and a setter who can get them the ball already in place. Johnson is a 2026 prospect who has the ability to play on the outside, and the versatility to play the libero role- and that allowed the Bears to have both senior [player_tooltip player_id='245165' first='Ava' last='Hoy'] and Johnson on the backline together. Johnson was solid in serve receive and in the middle back, keeping [player_tooltip player_id='245154' first='Hannah' last='Byers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='259678' first='Kate' last='Herrick'] in system when the offense needed to deliver.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a520"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480831"],"_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":"A 2026 middle, Jones offensive game blossomed as the season progressed providing Wenatchee with another strong option for scoring. The 5'11 sophomore hammered ball on quick sets, the u00223u0022 and from the right side, and was able to place off-speed shots over or around the block when needed. She will be back as part of ten current returners for the Panthers next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a562"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>sdfsdf</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["310800"],"_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":"Gonzales is a setter who had the chops to jump in and handle serve receive at a high level. Her ability to pass, play defense and set a second ball when needed allowed Lake Stevens to keep feeding their talented outsides on the pin and in the pipe. She passed nails in opening round wins on day one, and looked strong defending and digging up balls to keep the offense rolling. Gonzales will look to step in as a setter for senior [player_tooltip player_id='238278' first='Katelyn' last='Eichert'] who moves on to Westminster in Colorado after a tremendous high school career.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a5a9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>sdsd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480850"],"_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":"Geller teamed with senior [player_tooltip player_id='250047' first='Ena' last='Hadzikadunic'] at the MB position, providing the Jaguars two athletic and hard-working blockers. Geller is a multi-sport athlete who hammers the ball on the softball diamond, and uses her strong hands to wall off attackers on the volleyball court. She will continue to add to her game offensively, her movement and strong frame point towards an upward trajectory between the lines.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ade203a5f0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Prep Dig is putting on the Washington Top 250 Expo for Class of 2024-27 prospects on Dec. 2 in Lynnwood</strong>. <a href="http://click%20here/">https://events.prepdig.com/e/907/register/washington-top-250-expo</a> to sign up for the event. Check out the attendee list to see the great players from across the state who have already signed up.</em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/907/attendees"><em> https://events.prepdig.com/e/907/atte</em></a><a href="http://attendees/"><em>ndees</em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Washington Top 250 Expo is being held in a familiar spot for volleyball players and parents- The Academy Sports Center in Lynwood, home to [program_tooltip program_id='431458' first='Washington' last='Volleyball Academy']. Don't be afraid to make the trip across the mountains- we have prospects from Wenatchee, Kamiakin, Spokane Valley, and Kennewick ready to compete and play with top prospects from across the Westside of the state. I encourage you to check out the players attending list- the energy level will be high and the coverage extensive. We would love to see you there!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->