2025 HS Preview: Claremore and Sapulpa

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>School season is right around the corner and we are taking a look at 2 teams per article. We will talk about who they graduated, key returners, and predict the outcome of the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams compete in class 5A. Although both schools are very close to the ADM cutoff and close to being moved to 6A. Between the two teams they have 5 regional championships and 140 wins combined in the past 3 seasons. Head coaches Derek Jackson and Corey Harp are tied when playing each other in their careers, both sitting at 6-6. Both will be looking to beat the other again, while also trying to get two more regional titles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Claremore:</span> </strong>They went 28-8 the last two seasons. They won their regional championship and went into state as the #5 overall team. They beat the #9 Coweta Tigers three times last season, #6 Regent Prep,#10 Glenpool and #14 Lawton Mac. They graduated only two players but they were two All State Selections in [player_tooltip player_id='303529' first='Ella' last='Ramsey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212432' first='Claire' last='Hardage']. Both players were key players regarding kills, digging and blocking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Upcoming Season: Players like [player_tooltip player_id='285769' first='Grace' last='Baughman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='666302' first='Addison' last='Doyle'] will anchor them offensively. [player_tooltip player_id='285770' first='Doshia' last='Bittner'], [player_tooltip player_id='741598' first='Alivia' last='Payne'] [player_tooltip player_id='774418' first='Maise' last='Stagner-Speer'],[player_tooltip player_id='747217' first='Tayvn' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='741599' first='Ava' last='Tanner'] all go to see some quality court time last season in preperation for this season. Addison, Grace and Doshia were 1st team all confernce selections last season as sophomores. Maise was a 2nd team selection as a freshamn. The upcoming freshman class has a plethora of talent as well, they just missed out on being conference champs by 2 points in the 3rd set. <strong>Prediction</strong>: The Zebras make it 7 of the last 9 for regional champs and a trip to state. They will be close to 28-8 again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sapulpa:</span></strong> They went 12-21 last season and were just a few points away from upsetting Claremore in the regional championship. This marks the first time in the past 5 seasons the Chieftains didn't make that state tournament. They play in the 6A dominated Frontier Valley Conference where they play the likes of Owasso, Jenks and Broken Arrow each year. They had multiple key wins last season, such as beating #12 McAlester, #11 Edison and a thrilling 17-15 win over #3 Claremore. Sapulpa is graduating their two best passers in Sterling College Signee Brooklyn Kuster and fellow DS Isabella Dennis. They both held down most of the digging and serve receive duties and were solid servers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Upcoming Season: They are known for having a solid serve and serve receive game and getting their middles involved early and often matches. They have been a middle dominated offense the past 5 years. That likely doesn't change this upcoming season as well. They will look to players like, [player_tooltip player_id='746423' first='Hayden' last='Humphrey'], [player_tooltip player_id='874955' first='Abby' last='Admire'], and Ella Ord to get the offense rolling. [player_tooltip player_id='774413' first='Adrian' last='Hawley'] will look to pick up the torch from Kuster in the back row. Mix in Madyson Greenfeather, [player_tooltip player_id='739257' first='Aubrey' last='Mathias'], [player_tooltip player_id='778080' first='Haylee' last='Stockham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='880548' first='Kayliana' last='Hatfield'], this gives them a chance to make it 5 out of the last 6 years as regional champs. They also have a whole host of players at the younger ages playing club, which will give them a big boost down the road. <strong>Prediction</strong>: The Chieftains stay ranked inside the top 15 and make it to the regional finals again. They will be a more well rounded team this time around and could find thier way back into state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good luck to all the high school teams this upcoming season! We will see just how much Oklahoma volleyball has grown AGAIN.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->