Golden Athlete: Lily Mae Buerkle Shines Spotlight on Teammates
In this article:
A major shoutout to Michelle Bamford from PrepDig California for the creation and inspiration behind this article series. Because Michelle Bamford’s introductory paragraph perfectly sums up the importance of this series, we are using her words to kick off this series in…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA major shoutout to Michelle Bamford from PrepDig California for the creation and inspiration behind this article series.
Because Michelle Bamford’s introductory paragraph perfectly sums up the importance of this series, we are using her words to kick off this series in Oregon…
Acknowledging and cherishing the dedication of those who stand by your side on the court is paramount in the pursuit of victory. To emphasize the importance of acknowledging and showing appreciation to teammates and to spotlight the pivotal role their support plays in the quest for greatness, we’ve extended an invitation to Lily Mae Buerkle Lily Mae Buerkle 5'10" | S McDaniel | 2026 State OR to share her insights on the players who make up her club team. Through her words, we aim to shed light on the indispensable contributions of the teammates who have been instrumental in shaping her success on the court.
From Lily Mae: Briella is incredibly smart, and has an amazing court vision. I know I can always count on her to find kills and the open court, even with a wall of blockers. This consistency is key, and her flexibility opens up opportunities for our offense. She’s also a great defensive player and helps keep our back row solid. Her love of the game is always visible, and the energy and intensity she brings to each match are infectious. Her spirit and trust in her teammates shows up in so many ways, and it’s impossible not to have fun when you’re playing with Bri.
From Lily Mae: Emma is a powerhouse of a player, whether it’s in the back row or up at the net banging balls; her love for the game comes through in everything she does. She’s an incredible athlete in every way, and I’m so excited to get to play with her this year. She brings an intensity to every match that inspires everyone around her. No matter where she’s playing, she’s always working to make a difference, and I know I can always find her for big kills when we really need it. Besides being a super all around athlete, she’s an incredibly fun person to be around off the court.
From Lily Mae: Iman is one of the most fun people to be around, both on and off the court. She is incredibly athletic and can jump through the roof. Her arm swing is lethal, and when she’s on, the other team doesn’t stand a chance. She is really good at communicating on the court, and I love celebrating big kills with her. She is a true team player and celebrates her teammates’ successes like they are her own, and the energy she brings to this group is a big part of what holds us together.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: Irene is a multifaceted player who’s good at everything. She can show up in a clutch play and the team can always count on her to get things done exactly when we need it most. She’s always calm and collected, even at the most stressful moments. I really admire her volleyball IQ and the way that she can adapt to tricky situations. She’s come through for us with her serves at some really intense times while totally keeping her cool. Off the court, she’s also such an engaging person to be around – it’s impossible to get bored when you’re hanging out with Irene.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: I don’t think you’ll ever meet a more genuine and athletic person as Jada. She is crazy smart and works hard at everything she does, on and off the court, and it shows. She can jump sky-high and hit like nobody’s business, and her presence is supportive and energizing to everyone around her. I know I can always trust Jada to stay positive, even when things are not going our way. She’s the first to brush off mistakes, pick up others around her, and come through with the key play. I’m so grateful for her energy, because she helps to keep everyone fired up and focused.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: Kiana is one of the best teammates a person could have: she is intelligent and caring, she always has a positive attitude, and she’s as quick as lightning in the back row. She will go for any ball, and is the type who will throw herself into the bleachers to save the point. I love playing with Ki because not only is she insanely talented, but she is always the first to celebrate with you, and her energy and determination are contagious. Whenever she’s on the court, everyone knows she is going to give 110% effort on every ball and it’s that dedication that keeps our team anchored on defense.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: Quinn is one of the sweetest people I know while still being a total beast of a player. She’s really good at reading the game and stopping teams with the block. She’s also very crafty, and can adapt to any set on the net to find the open court. She is also genuinely one of the most positive players I’ve ever had the privilege of playing with, and is so reassuring to everyone around her. Whether we’re winning or losing, Quinn loves to play volleyball and it shows. She always works hard, and is uplifting to everyone around her. I’m so grateful for her presence and commitment to this team.
From Lily Mae: Reese is another player who I’ve been playing with since we were little – and it’s been so fun to grow up with her in volleyball and incredible to see her become the amazing player she is today. She’s a dominant force on the court in every position, but she’s especially scary at the net. With her reach, she can shut down players on the block, and bang a ball down the line. She’s very good at finding the kill, and her serves are next level. Reese is also such a caring and sweet person, and it’s easy to see that she genuinely loves the game and her teammates on and off the court.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: Sadie is an amazing hitter, and a key player in our offense. She is a force at the net, and her arm swing is lethal. With her serve and her ability to swing from anywhere on the court, she’s a person I know I can count on to get the job done. She brings so much energy to the game, both as one of our team captains, but also as an incredibly dynamic athlete. She is always pumping people up, and it’s this positivity that helps to keep the team together in tight moments. Her drive to perform helps to motivate people around her, and I’m so grateful for her leadership and presence on the team.
Highlights
From Lily Mae: Shaylee dominates in the middle, and her foot speed and quick arm swing make it hard for anyone to stop her. She is really smart on the court and good at adjusting to plays in the moment, and makes my job as a setter really easy with her communication. When we need her, she’s always there, and her presence and leadership are vital. She’s always pushing herself to the next level, and is really good at knowing what the team needs in the moment. I admire Shaylee, because she genuinely cares about this team on and off the court and it shows in every way.
From Lily Mae: I’ve had the privilege of playing with Sid almost every year since I was 11, and it’s been so fun to get to grow up in the sport of volleyball with her. She is one of the most dedicated players I know, and is always finding ways she can improve. Her serve receive is a big component to our ability to run the offense, and she’s always such a steady presence on the court. She is very attuned to the game, and I know I can always count on her to show up in clutch moments. Her loyalty and focus on the team helps to keep us grounded.
From Lily Mae: Yana is a steady and calming presence on the court, but is also full of positive energy. She’s not only an awesome teammate, but she is multifaceted in her talents. She could pretty much play anywhere: with a killer serve, quick feet, and great court awareness, she’s an incredibly talented DS (and she can also kill it in the front row when she needs to). An all-around amazing player, she’s also such a funny and kind person and is fun to hang out with on and off the court.
Highlights
And finally, we are proud to spotlight Lily Mae Buerkle Lily Mae Buerkle 5'10" | S McDaniel | 2026 State OR , a 5’10” sophomore from Portland, Oregon.
As the #1 setter from the class of 2026 and #2 overall recruit, Buerkle continues to impress and stand out each time I see her play. A complete six-rotation setter, she shines in all facets: as a setter, defender, attacker, blocker, and server. She oozes finesse and confidence when running the offense. Technically, her footwork is impeccable, and her touch on the ball is effortless. Her consistency and accuracy put attackers in optimal positions to score. She creates one-on-one opportunities often, hiding her set location very well, consistently jump setting to draw opposing blockers up. She has become more and more offensive, taking opportunities to dump or attack on the second contact. With an innate ability to know where the open areas of the court are, she showcases a tremendous volleyball IQ. She is also a formidable presence as a blocker, with an aggressive press back into the court. If she isn’t being utilized as a setter, she has a killer swing and impressive hops, so she dominates on the right pin as an attacker as well. When playing right-back defense, she is quick on her feet to react to a tip, a cross-court or line swing, or anything else that comes in her direction.
Buerkle has made an immediate and lasting impact on her high school team, the McDaniel Mountain Lions. This program has struggled to compete historically, going 7-11 in 2021 and 2-6 during the shortened 2020 COVID season. However, Buerkle’s freshman season, in which she received Portland Interscholastic League Honorable Mention, the team went 15-8 overall. and went to the state playoffs for the first team in 13 years. The success continued into the 2023 season, where the team went 13-8 overall and placed 3rd in the PIL. As their captain and a PIL First Team nod, Buerkle was a major reason for this. Although Buerkle was not able to provide stats as the team does not keep the most updated or comprehensive ones, she had an impact all around. The Mountain Lions looked to Buerkle both as a setter and attacker.
This club season, Buerkle has been a significant reason for the NPJ 16-1 National’s success, executing a 5-1 or splitting duties with Irene Rocha Irene Rocha 5'8" | S Blanchet Catholic | 2026 State OR running a 6-2. She helped the team secure the National bid to USAV Nationals in July. Currently seeded #10 in CEVA’s Open division, the team is 7-5. Because they opted not to play in the final Open tournament, attending the Adidas Bluegrass Tournament instead, they had to drop to the second flight. This is also why their record reflects fewer games than other teams in Open. However, heading into Regionals, Buerkle’s team should compete well and finish in the top 10.
Outside of volleyball, Buerkle fits quite a few extracurriculars and hobbies into her schedule while maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA. A dedicated student, she participates in honors English, History, and Science classes. Very interested in pursuing the math and science route in college, she has enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences track at McDaniel, gaining experiences and exploring interesting concepts in the medical and science realm. When not on the court or in the classroom, she also participates in varsity track and field, competing in disc and shot put at state last season. She also holds a blackbelt in taekwondo, though she does not actively train anymore. But wait, there is more! Buerkle is also the club president of the McDaniel Student Health Action Council, a club partnered with the Multnomah County student health centers that works to educate and provide resources to the community and students. A self-proclaimed bookworm, she loves to read, so it is no surprise she is also a member of the McDaniel High School Library Readers and Thinkers Club. She loves to play the piano, and has since she was 6, plus she also enjoys crafting, making jewelry, and sewing.
Though Buerkle has not committed to a college program yet, she is still a sophomore and has plenty of time left in her recruiting journey. A well-rounded person and top-notch volleyball player, she will surely have many competitive options at her disposal.
With these aforementioned skillsets and qualities, Lily Mae Buerkle Lily Mae Buerkle 5'10" | S McDaniel | 2026 State OR proudly earns her spot as one of PrepDig’s esteemed Golden Athletes.