Platinum #3: 2023 Standout Passers and Setters

The Platinum tournament is the best of the best in Oregon and Washington, competing for the #1 seed in the Pacific Northwest. The Puget Sound region and the Columbia Empire region each send their top four 16U and top four 18U teams to compete, so a total of eight teams in each age bracket. First playing in a pool and then in a small bracket, one team will come out on top. One team from each region’s age bracket will drop down, allowing for one team to move up and compete. There will be a few more Platinum tournaments taking place later on that we will be covering as well. In the 18U age bracket the teams in attendance were: NPJ 18-1 Forefront (CE), OJVA 17-1 Gold (CE), Athena 17-1 Gold (CE)*, Excel 18 Rox (CE), SIVBC 18-1 Tsunami (PS), Oly Reign 18-1 (PS), Dakine 17 Surf (PS), and NPJ Seattle 18-1 National (PS). All teams competed and great volleyball was played. To recap the tournament, we will be highlighting some standout players in their respective position and class. In order to cover a new group of athletes, if you were spotlighted in the first Platinum series, you will not be spotlighted in this series. *Athena teams were at another travel tournament and did not compete in Platinum #3. OREGON —————— [caption id="attachment_192584" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-192584" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/455-JKB_6479-e1651170268341-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OJVA[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91349" first="Sidney" last="Knowles"], 5’7”, DS, Sherwood High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17 Gold Committed: Eckerd College Knowles is a utility defensive specialist, working her way into the lineup when called upon. She is always ready to jump into the match to help her teammates, in any way possible. At this past platinum tournament, she was often seen playing the back row rotations for 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91328" first="Sofia" last="Cooper"]. Serve receive is where Knowles shines, with an incredibly controlled platform, she consistently puts up a settable ball. She also does a good job absorbing what the other team is doing as well, picking up their tendencies and communicating this with her teammates constantly. Knowles is a two-year varsity starter for the Sherwood High School Bowmen. As a defensive specialist, her play helped the Bowmen capture a first-place finish in the Pacific Conference and advance to the second round of the 6A State tournament. WASHINGTON —————— [player_tooltip player_id="97250" first="Bella" last="Moon"], 5’5”, North Creek High School, DS, North Pacific Juniors Seattle 17 National Moon is one of two liberos in rotation for the NPJ Seattle 17 National team, alongside 2023 Brooke Caldwell. As one of the top liberos coming out of the state of Washington, it is no surprise that she is relied on heavily for her back-row play. Moon shines on the defensive end of the game with a stellar reaction time she keeps the ball alive at all costs. She does an exceptional job reading the attack, getting herself in a good position to react to the ball. Moon is a three-year varsity starter for the North Creek High School Jaguars. She sees court time for the Jaguars as their starting libero. For her play, she was awarded KingCo 4A Defensive Player of the Year, KingCo 4A First Team All-State, and 4A First Team All-State. Moon is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023. [caption id="attachment_101423" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-101423" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/paige-stepaniuk-1-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Excel NW[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="97304" first="Paige" last="Stepaniuk"], 5’6”, DS, Ridgefield High School, Excel NW 18 Rox Committed: Portland State University. The primary libero for the Excel 18 Rox team Stepaniuk is an absolute beast in the back row. An integral part of this group’s back row for many seasons, it is clear her teammates place an inordinate amount of trust in her ability to put up a settable ball. Her steady ball control is a large part of this team’s success. Defensively, she is all over the place, in the best way possible. When watching their court, I watched Stepaniuk leap over her benches chairs to get a ball back in play, attempt to run back to the court, trip over the chair that she had leaped over, and make a diving dig to save another ball to help her team win the point. And no, it was not the game point, that is just the type of play you except with Stepaniuk on the court. Talk about all-out hustle! Stepaniuk is a three-year varsity starter for the Ridgefield High School Spudders. This past season she transitioned to the outside position, playing all six rotations. Her play was critical in the team advancing to the 2A State finals. She was awarded Greater St. Helens Second Team All-League for her play last season. 2023 STELLAR SETTERS IN WASHINGTON [player_tooltip player_id="97317" first="Lauren" last="Harris"], 5’8”, S, Skyview High School Excel NW 18 Rox For the Excel NW 18 Rox team, Harris is typically seen running a 6-2 with 2022 Morgan Hartner. Harris is an athletic setter, and is very quick to get her hands on the ball. She does a good job with set choice selection. Playing right back, she does a notable job on defense, focusing on playing defense before releasing to set. Harris two-year Varsity athlete for the Skyview High School Storm. Her play helped the team finish 7th place in the 3A/4A district tournament. Harris is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2023.