Tuesday Match to Watch: Jackson vs Bellevue
It’s that time of the year again! The high school volleyball season has just started in the state of Washington and we can’t wait to see all the exciting prospects of the Evergreen State in action once again. The first…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of the year again! The high school volleyball season has just started in the state of Washington and we can’t wait to see all the exciting prospects of the Evergreen State in action once again.
The first week of competition will bring a handful of can’t-miss matches and as we understand it’s a lot to process, especially with two seasons separated by just a few months, we’ll recommend one match for you to follow every day until Wednesday, highlighting the teams involved and their most exciting prospects.
Here’s our suggestion for Tuesday, September 7:
Jackson vs Bellevue – 7.00pm
The Timberwolves, representing the Jackson High School out of Mill Creek, secured a 6-3 win record last season, losing only one match on the road. The district performance wasn’t as solid, though, as they ranked fourth in the 4A Wesco league with one win and four defeats. The Timberwolves and head coach Jim McGlockin lost several important pieces of their roster to graduation, but still have a strong squad to work with.
Also nicknamed the Wolverines, the team from Bellevue won all six matches they played last season without dropping any sets to top the 3A KingCo District. Head coach Jamie Tingelstad will want to try to keep the same form at the start of the season and he’ll rely on his athletic players to do so.
Players to Watch – Jackson
Elina Powell – Setter – Club: Washington Volleyball Academy – 2022
Elina Powell is one of the most talented setters in the entire state and she brings the added bonus of being 6’1” tall. This Jackson prospect has been getting better every year and was in great from last season, when she registered 199 assists, 81 digs and 20 blocks in just 31 sets. Powell has tremendous technical skills, being really consistent and efficient with her ball distribution and can also be a factor at the net, as she was last season, when she was the Timberwolves’ third-best scorer with 29 kills.
Aaliyah Lutali Aaliyah Lutali 5'4" | S Jackson | 2023 State WA – Setter – Club: Sudden Impact – 2023
Jackson already has a setter in line to replace Powell when she graduates at the end of the season in Aaliyah Lutali Aaliyah Lutali 5'4" | S Jackson | 2023 State WA . Even though she’s a completely different kind of player, the 5’4” has what it takes to successfully run a team’s offense with her high volleyball IQ and great touch on the ball. Last season, with limited playing time, she averaged 4.8 assists per set, to a total of 48 in ten sets.
Players to Watch – Bellevue
Nyah Taylor – Outside Hitter – Club: Sudden Impact – 2023
Nyah Taylor masters all aspects of the game and that translates really well to her role as an outside hitter with the Timberwolves. A six-footer, she’s truly impressive on offense due to her ability to change the rhythm of the spikes, going from powerful hits to technical shots without missing a beat. She’s also very skilled on the backcourt and has big responsibility in the team’s serve receiving and digging efforts.
Kaitlyn Watson – Middle Blocker – Sudden Impact – 2022
Kaitlyn Watson’s athleticism is a very important part of her game as it allows the 5’10” middle blocker to match up with taller opponents at the net and also to move faster than them. Watson has a tremendous jumping ability and combines it on offense with her capacity to hit the ball in any direction. She brings a lot of power on her approach and hit straight down when she has a chance. She’s also a very active and smart blocker.