Will Summit win the 5A State title?

PrepDig Oregon released a poll awhile back asking everyone to vote on their prediction for the 5A State title winner. PrepDig is doing a write up on each of the top four vote getters, plus a bonus school we think will go far in the State tournament. Based on the results, Bend, Wilsonville, Summit, and West Albany received the highest number of votes; and, our 5A bonus school is Crescent Valley. All five programs are top-notch and will likely advance well into the State tournament. But, will one of these teams win it all? Time will tell.    Receiving the 3rd most votes at 58 was Summit High School. Summit first won a State championship in 2011 and then again in 2015, and took second at the tournament – falling to Bend – in 2017. But, the Storm Cats have not won a championship or made it into the finals since. After making it through Round 1 this past weekend with a 3-1 win over Churchill, Summit is now one step closer to making it through to the final match of the tournament.   Throughout the regular season, we were able to see this team in action and have some impressive players to highlight.   Two of Summit's high-scoring pin hitters are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='126163' first='Ellie' last='Ezell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='126158' first='Avery' last='Ruhl'], who are both powerful attackers. Ezell, who sets from the back row and hits from both pins when in the front row, is a formidable attacker from anywhere along the net. She is also aggressive both when serving and setting, and is undoubtedly a key player for Summit. Over the course of the season, Ezell has notched an impressive 57 aces, 134 kills on 414 hitting attempts, 129 digs, and 3 solo blocks and 12 block assists. As a setter, Ezell has tallied an astounding 237 assists on 742 assist attempts. Ruhl, an outside hitter, is a very physical player who has an excellent back row game; not only is she a solid defensive player, but Ruhl can also put the ball way to the corners effortlessly when attacking from the back row. Ruhl has racked up 35 aces, 119 kills on 386 attempts, and 121 digs.   Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='161908' first='Elli' last='Guadalupe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='126205' first='Lyla' last='Gilchrist'] are also key to Summit's offense. Guadalupe is a powerhouse outside hitter with a solid back row game. She's tallied 39 kills, 7 block assists, and 29 digs. Hitting from the right side, Gilchrist showcases an impressive vertical and a quick, powerful arm swing. Gilchrist has notched a solid 82 kills, 3 solo blocks, and 11 block assists.   Setting opposite Ezell is senior [player_tooltip player_id='126213' first='Abby' last='Toolan'], a solid setter who brings a great attitude and balance to the court. Toolan has a soft touch on the ball and places her sets well, running her offense effectively. She has tallied an impressive 236 assists on 726 assist attempts. And, from the service line, Toolan is very consistent; she's notched 24 aces and has a steady 90.5 serving percentage.   From the middle, senior Mia Mees has been dominant. Mees showcases an impressive vertical and is super athletic, which helps her push just about anything through any block she faces. She also puts up a high block that opponents struggle against. Anytime she steps on the court, Mees brings a positive energy. She has racked up 73 kills, and leads the team in solo blocks, with 8 solo blocks and 12 block assists. Currently playing across from Mees is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='268836' first='Teagen' last='McMahon'], who has been pulled into the middle blocker position to fill in for senior powerhouse [player_tooltip player_id='126166' first='Danica' last='Becerril'], an East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania commit who sprained her ankle at the end of September. Although McMahon is younger than the team's other starters, she showcases a high volleyball IQ, an impressive serve, solid out-of-system sets as needed, and excellent blocking technique. Despite having played for only half the season, McMahon has notched 14 aces, 16 kills, 1 solo block, and 21 block assists.   Finally, controlling Summit's back row are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='161828' first='Sahalie' last='Oceguera'] and [player_tooltip player_id='161885' first='Lucie' last='Reynolds']. Oceguera, who typically steps on the court as a defensive specialist, is an overall great player with a very high volleyball IQ. Oceguera brings passion and energy to the court. She is not just solid at passing, but also does a great job of setting her team's attackers out of system, a testament to her solid, high-level beach game. Oceguera has amassed 29 aces with a 91.2 serving percentage, 32 kills, and 112 digs. On serve receive, Oceguera passes a steady 1.66 average. Reynolds, Summit's libero, is excellent in the back row and does a great job of leading her team's defense. Like Oceguera, Reynolds has a high volleyball IQ and reads the court very well, positioning herself perfectly to pick up anything that comes her way. As indicated by her stats, Reynolds is incredibly consistent and instrumental in Summit's success. She has notched 30 aces, 16 kills with a 0.317 hitting percentage, 47 assists on 191 assist attempts, and 220 digs. On serve receive, Reynolds passes a 1.91 average.

PrepDig Oregon released a poll awhile back asking everyone to vote on their prediction for the 5A State title winner. PrepDig is doing a write up on each of the top four vote getters, plus a bonus school we think will go far in the State tournament. Based on the results, Bend, Wilsonville, Summit, and West Albany received the highest number of votes; and, our 5A bonus school is Crescent Valley. All five programs are top-notch and will likely advance well into the State tournament. But, will one of these teams win it all? Time will tell.