Mid Willamette League Preview and Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mid Willamette League is preparing for the 2025 season. In case you missed last season, here is a short recap with some key returning players for the top three teams in this league:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1- South Albany High School -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Albany won the 5A state championships this past season, beating Crescent Valley 3-0. Now ranked #1 in the state for 5A, their job this next season will be to defend their title. Their overall wins sat at 14-0 with their league wins at 27-0. They went from 3rd in their conference in 2023 to winning it all in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["509772"],"_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-689970fb3cad6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Webb is a dynamic returning junior pin hitter for the Redhawks. She fights to get off the net in transition, making her an option for her setters with her hard swing and high reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["267164"],"_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-689970fb3cb45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Donladson is returning senior middle blocker/pin for South Albany High. Her positional versatility makes her a strong player for the Redhawks this season, being explosive in the middle and calm but efficient on the pin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2- Crescent Valley High School-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crescent Valley placed second in their league this past season, with 12 league wins and two losses. They won 26 games overall, only losing four. OSAA placed them at second in the state for 5A, just one step down from their #1 seed in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["509784"],"_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-689970fb3cb90"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Horn is a strong passer, returning for Crescent Valley varsity as a junior. Her adaptability and court awareness makes her a player to reckon with and keep your eye on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268718"],"_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-689970fb3cbd2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lockman, a returning outside senior for the Raider's, is a controlled but powerful pin hitter. Moving her feet to the ball, and remaining open to the setter, Lockman is a returning player to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3- Corvallis High School-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corvallis placed third in their league, winning 10-4 league matches and 17-7 overall matches. They placed 9th in the state, nine spots up from their 18th spot in 2023. They also tied for fifth in their league in 2023, showing that this is a team that is putting in the work to move up in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["509776"],"_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-689970fb3cc14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitinger, ranked 3rd in her positional group in the class of 2027, is a speedy libero, moving effortlessly to the ball to make a play. She reads the court well in the backrow, head always on a swivel to make the next move. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268774"],"_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-689970fb3cc53"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Riggs is a returning senior setter for the Spartan's, ranked #11 in her positional class. Her swift movements and soft but strong hands allows her to run her offense well and challenge the other side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->