Wednesday Whiteboard: News and Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Whiteboard is up and running for the 2024 High School season here in Washington. It's early, but we have had some significant non-conference matches and tournaments already. Let's look at some early-season polls, results, and stand-out performers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PRE-SEASON HYPE TRAIN!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first week of the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association (WSVCA) poll was released, and while we will know much more about teams in a few weeks, there are some solid teams listed in the top spots around the state. Find the complete poll here: <a href="https://www.wsvbca.com/_files/ugd/2a4a27_246e6c40d9d64b949e0c9a2aa1a32c98.pdf">https://www.wsvbca.com/_files/ugd/2a4a27_246e6c40d9d64b949e0c9a2aa1a32c98.pdf</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A- Camas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A- (tie) Mount Spokane and Seattle Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A- Burlington-Edison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A- Chelan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2B- Manson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1B. Oakesdale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those are very familiar squads to volleyball fans around the state and are all solid choices with the season just getting started. Camas 2026 OH [player_tooltip player_id='450701' first='Gabriella' last='Thompson'] recently committed to the University of Miami, and senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='249445' first='Kendall' last='Mairs'] has been a star for the Papermakers since her freshman season. Mount Spokane and Seattle Prep won't have to deal with Mead this season, the Panthers have been moved up to the 4A ranks. Burlington-Edison has two stars in [player_tooltip player_id='250397' first='Mia' last='Whitlock'] and Lexi Mason, but don't expect Columbia River to go away quietly in 2A. Chelan deserves the top spot in 1A, [player_tooltip player_id='249310' first='Brynn' last='Hughbanks'], [player_tooltip player_id='486356' first='Lydia' last='Petersen'], and the rest of the Mountain Goats have been dominant at the 1A level for several years and might be better this year than last. Manson and Oakesdale are both returning champions in the B ranks, Oakesdale has been on a multi-year run of championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchups To Watch This Week!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How about two for the East Side of the state? <strong>GONZAGA PREP</strong> vs <strong>MT. SPOKANE </strong>in the GSL and <strong>KENNEWICK</strong> vs <strong>KAMIAKIN</strong> in the Mid-Columbia. In both matchups, top contenders for the overall league title square off, and it's 3A vs 4A. Kamiakin lost a huge group of seniors but has talented underclassmen who can play, Kennewick made real progress last season and this is the year they are looking to make it through Regionals. Mt. Spokane is a traditional winner with key players back from last season, Gonzaga Prep is trying to make a fourth straight appearance at the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EASTSIDE CATHOLIC vs LAKESIDE</strong>. Both squads have talented players and are trying to find their footing in the early part of Metro League play. The Lions are just a few seasons removed from a 3A State title and Eastside Catholic has the potential to make a run at a state berth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WILBUR-CRESTON-KELLER vs OAKESDALE</strong>. Both teams have had a solid start to the season, it's a good chance for the Nighthawks to match up against a talented non-league opponent from the 1B classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One match-up for next week: <strong>LAKE STEVENS</strong> vs <strong>GLACIER PEAK</strong>, Monday the 23rd. This is an early test for both squads in the Wesco. [player_tooltip player_id='231549' first='Laura' last='Eichert'] leads the charge for the Vikings, Glacier Peak is talented across the board and has a 4-0 record to start the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SUNDOME VOLLEYBALL FESTIVAL </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sundome hosts 64 varsity squads over the weekend, and crowns a champion in the 4A/3A/2A and 1A/2B/1B divisions after a full day of pool and bracket play. Last year Wenatchee captured both the Sundome Festival championship and the 4A State title, a feat they wanted to repeat. The Panthers return most of their squad from last season, headlined by a strong group of seniors that includes setter [player_tooltip player_id='249189' first='Ava' last='Jo Berry'], libero [player_tooltip player_id='552735' first='Emme' last='Tucker'], middle [player_tooltip player_id='250403' first='Maren' last='Stuber'], and outside [player_tooltip player_id='250402' first='Keira' last='Demirjian']. Several other quality teams were in attendance and there is always a surprise or two early in the season. Burlington-Edison and Ellensburg battled it out in Pool 1, in a matchup of two likely state qualifiers from the 2A ranks. Ferris, Gonzaga Prep, and Kamiakin all have solid squads returning after reaching state last season. Gonzaga Prep and Kamiakin have matched up several times in the regional playoffs recently, both teams from Eastern Washington captured their pools 6-0. Ferris moved up a classification to the 4A level in the Greater Spokane League and has a good group of players back after a surprise run to a state berth last season, and they captured the tie-breaker in a pool of teams that all went 3-3. Lynden and Peninsula had good days, Lynden was 4-2 in the pool, and Peninsula moved into the Championship bracket after a 6-0 pool record. Central Washington teams Wenatchee, Davis, and West Valley Yakima all took the top spots in their respective pools. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final ended up being a Big 9 battle with Davis surprising Wenatchee and winning the 4A/3A/2A title 18-25, 25-22, 16-14. The two teams know each other well, and Wenatchee has handled the Pirates in recent matches. Davis features [player_tooltip player_id='250406' first='Kailey' last='Willsey'] on the outside, the senior has a heavy arm and will play at Central next season. [player_tooltip player_id='268055' first='Malia' last='Wheeler'] is a terrific defender and sophomores Isa Garcia, Paige Gasseling, and Cheyenne Hull are all major contributors on the floor. Willsey makes it all go for Davis with her ability to terminate a point, teams won't want to be in a tight match with the 6'2" senior on the pin. Gonzaga Prep and Ellensburg were the other two teams to make it to the semi-finals before falling to Wenatchee and Davis respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manson threw down the gauntlet in their quest for a repeat state title, taking the small school championship for the second year in a row at the Sundome Festival. The 2B Trojans did not drop a set and looked good doing it. The [player_tooltip player_id='266136' first='Stella' last='Petersen'] led squad will take on new 2B Division member Freeman on the road in early October in what could be a match-up of two final four potential teams at the 2B level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AVCA PLAYER OF THE WEEK- WASHINGTON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The AVCA and MaxPreps award each state a player of the week. Players (teams and coaches) must update their stats in MaxPreps to qualify for the award. Get on it coaches, we love to see what the players have done! Check out the awards here, <a href="https://www.avca.org/polls-awards/players-of-the-week/. ">https://www.avca.org/polls-awards/players-of-the-week/. </a> Washington has one of the latest season starts nationwide, and just two players of the week have been honored so far, compared to five weeks worth of nominations. Here are the two Washington players of the week honored this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["233837"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66eb94b986f9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neubauer will take her game to Tuscon next season, she is committed to the Beach program for the Wildcats and was the week four winner of the AVCA/MaxPreps High School Player of the Week. Eastlake has an excellent mix of size, experience, and talent, the Wolves will be a tough out for teams in the KingCo Conference. Neubauer and eight seniors total dot the roster, and the skilled sand player leads the team in kills in the early going. Big-time conference matches are looming in September against Lake Washington and Skyline- both on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["250396"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66eb94b987053"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mason took home the award for Week Five in Washington, the 2025 prospect is already over the 100-kill mark on the season and is hitting at a .275 clip on over 300 attempts. The Tigers took home the second-seed championship trophy at the Sundome Volleyball Festival over the weekend after finishing pool play at 5-1. The 2A Tigers had a preview of a state-level matchup against Ellensburg in the Sundome, these two teams seem headed for another Sundome meeting in November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->