2A State Finals: Impact Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2A State Championship match last weekend was between the returning State champions Salem Academy and the resilient Monroe High School Dragons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two teams played a thrilling and well-fought match, with the Monroe Dragons coming back from a two-set deficit to win the third and fourth sets, only to fall to the Crusaders in the fifth set (25-15, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 15-12). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To recap the match, we will be identifying and highlighting players from each team who were impact players for their respective teams. Although the Salem Academy Crusaders came out on top, the Monroe Dragons also had some athletes with great performances in the match.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"><strong>MONROE HIGH SCHOOL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":246068,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Bella Gamache","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Monroe High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnCOMMITTED: University of Southern California, Beach VolleyballrnrnIt's hard to talk about impressive athletes from the 2A Championship match without first highlighting middle and outside hitter Gamache, who recently committed to playing beach at USC, the 2022 NCAA beach volleyball champions. Gamache played lights out against Salem Academy, posting an incredible 41 kills on 81 total swings for a .358 hitting percentage. She also had 5 aces out of 17 serves and made only one service error throughout the five set match. Gamache was not only an offensive weapon for the Dragons, but she also played great defense with 17 digs and a perfect 1.00 on serve receive with 19 receptions.rnrnUnsurprisingly, Gamache was named one of two Moda Health Players of the Game and was unanimously voted onto the 2A All-Tournament First Team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["161981"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":246070,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnSophomore setter Bateman did an excellent job running her offense in the Championship match. She tallied an impressive 33 assists, several of which went to her powerhouse hitter Gamache, as well as 2 aces and 16 digs. Bateman also contributed to her team's comeback in set 3 with a block assist and pushed her team to a fifth set with several smart plays in set 4.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":246071,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Hannah Hicks","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Monroe High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnSenior middle hitter Hicks came alive during sets 3 and 4 to help push her team to a fifth set. She posted 8 kills on 26 total swings and had only 3 errors for a .192 hitting percentage. Hicks was also steady at the service line, serving a .923 for 13 total serves. Defensively, Hicks was strong and steady with 9 digs and an impressive 2 solo blocks and 1 block assist.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":246072,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Sarah Thompson","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Monroe High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnSetting opposite Bateman was Thompson, who was on fire in serve receive. Thompson notched 12 assists and 2 aces, missing only 2 of 17 total serves. Defensively, however, is where Thompson shone. She posted 9 digs and an impressive .955 on serve receive with an amazing 42 receptions.rnrnThompson was named to the 2A All-Tournament Second Team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"><strong>SALEM ACADEMY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["236029"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Senior and offensive weapon Herber had an impressive Championship match and played an important role in her team's victory. Herber posted 22 kills on 70 total swings for a .200 hitting percentage. She also had 1 ace, 12 digs, and passed a .917 on serve receive with 22 receptions. Perhaps most instrumental was Herber's defense at the net. She notched 4 solo blocks, more than any other athlete on the court.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eBecause of her excellent play, Herber was named the other Moda Health Player of the Game and was unanimously named to the 2A All-Tournament First Team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":246073,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Emma Brewer","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Salem Academy","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnAlthough she's just a freshman, Brewer showed that she should not be underestimated during Salem Academy's win. Brewer had an impressive match throughout the night, securing two of her team's final few points in the decisive fifth set. She posted 26 kills on 64 total swings for a strong .344 hitting percentage. Brewer was also a weapon from the service line, where she had 2 aces and only 2 errors on 19 total serves. Brewer racked up 19 digs and 16 receptions on serve receive to assist her team defensively, too.rnrnBrewer was named to the 2A All-Tournament Second Team.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["161869"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Herber played a strong match setting for the Crusaders and did an excellent job of running her team's offense. She posted an impressive 34 assists, 2 aces, and 13 digs. Not only was Herber solid as a setter, but she also played well offensively, notching 5 kills and only 1 error on 15 total swings.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":246074,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Haley Krieger","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Salem Academy","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cemu003ePhoto: OSAAu003c/emu003ernrnKrieger stepped up during the Championship match as a three-rotation right side hitter where she was able to assist Herber with setting duties. Krieger posted a steady 14 assists, 19 digs, and passed an impressive .938 on serve receive with 15 total receptions. She was also strong from the service line and had 17 serves without a single error. Although she only had 2 total swings, Krieger also contributed to her team's win with 1 kill.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /-->