Underclassmen Rise Up at 3A State Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3A State Championship at the Yakima Sun Dome featured excellent play from experienced seniors and break-out underclassmen throughout the two-day tournament. We checked in with players from the four teams in the semi-finals, here are several underclassmen from other teams that played with passion and purpose in the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["244062"],"_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":"Mt. Spokane was just a few points away for another match up with Mead in the semi-finals of the tournament, falling just short of upsetting second ranked Lynnwood. The Wildcats put together a solid season behind a handful of experienced seniors and a fast rising group of underclassmen. Davis ended the season as a setter and right-side attacker, and the sophomore was able to run the offense with confidence, consistently finding fellow 2026 MB [player_tooltip player_id='251024' first='Berkeley' last='Neilson'] for critical kills.  Davis grew as an attacker throughout the season, and was effectively swinging to the angle and the line during Mt. Spokane's run at state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee60546947"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/2/657727/6549ff1802b1e80d28e5aac7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee605469c7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275058"],"_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":"Espinosa has a terrific and versatile overall game. Playing the right side for Liberty she delivered textbook defense and ripped swings into the deep corners to score. Her game in person and on video matches the stats- an excellent float serve, (42 Aces) a hard working blocker (46 Total) and willig to play defense with 139 on the season. Liberty will return excellent attackers in Layne Ford, [player_tooltip player_id='364043' first='Julianne' last='Lee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='268223' first='Maiya' last='Lester'] along with Espinosa- the Patriots should be pushing hard to return to the Sun Dome next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee60546a9a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["244106"],"_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 one-two punch of sophomore MB [player_tooltip player_id='243702' first='Kate' last='Danielson'] and DePiano gave opposing attackers issues all season for Auburn Riverside. DePiano has excellent length at 6'1 and extends well when she presses, creating stuff blocks and touches that helped the Ravens get the offense in system. She ran an efficient selection of attacks behind and in front of setter [player_tooltip player_id='266133' first='Bryanna' last='Dodson'], and her speed in transition and on her approach continues to improve. DePiano is smart as an attacker as well, she will drop soft tips to score or push a ball to a great spot to put pressure on the defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee60546b35"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mika Wellington","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Seattle Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Wellington is able to plant her foot in the ground and drive after a tip or ball off the block, and keep it alive. She was doing everything she could to keep her Seattle Prep team energized, showing great emotion and care for her squad. She is always covering her attackers, and she stays low to pop balls up and sprawl out when she has to make an emergency save. The junior will be an important senior leader for the Panthers as they return talented players like [player_tooltip player_id='310234' first='Lucia' last='Schneider'], [player_tooltip player_id='268470' first='Delaney' last='Dorscht'], [player_tooltip player_id='268469' first='Gabi' last='Smith'], Maddy Connor and more.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["184440"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Watching Peninsula, you appreciate how much work Sneva did this season when she is the main focus of other teams defensive game plan. Battling head to head against Mead's excellent MB [player_tooltip player_id='233895' first='Ava' last='Durgan']- Sneva was able to pound down her own kills and gave the Seahawks a great chance to win in each set against the eventual state champions. Mead was pulling in for a triple-block when they diagnosed a Sneva opportunity, and she made the most of it taking swings at the edge of the block or to the deep corner to score.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee60546c21"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/yM8-rO0noOA?si=BuzV2Ob3ce9S9YoF","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/yM8-rO0noOA?si=BuzV2Ob3ce9S9YoF </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='724714' first='Janie' last='McCanna']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West Seattle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"McCanna has outstanding energy and is big-time competitor on the court. She had no fear stepping in as a freshman and playing as a six-rotation outside. She has high level experience on the beach for a young 2027 prospect and it showed in her play- McCanna is able to pick up digs with one handed stabs and then drop in a pokey to score. She turned and attacked on two against Peninsula, surprising the defenders to terminate from the right side. Sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='310798' first='Jaslynn' last='Daily'] found her early and often with sweet location and tempo- a connection that should be excellent for the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655ee60546cc3"} /-->