2026: Sophomores Stepping Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are into week 4 of the season and most teams are into league play where the games count towards playoff spots and ultimately state tournament appearances. The class of 2026 had last year to acclimate to the high school season, and this season are seizing their opportunity to play a major role on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["450701"],"_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":"When the ranking updates come out, there are always some players that we may not have seen or missed, Thompson is a prime example. She is on the Watchlist for 2026 and will make a big jump in the next update. The 2026 prospect has been an explosive part of the Camas Papermakers early season success, ripping kills from the pin and the pipe, balancing out a terrific offensive attack. 2025 top prospect [player_tooltip player_id='249445' first='Kendall' last='Mairs'] is finding Thompson all over the court from her setter spot and the Camas squad just beat one of the top 6A teams in Oregon convincingly. Thompson has touch and power and uses her impressive length to put up a solid block.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650e6c87e7ea9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18540709/650cc4a26e8c480914f8faa8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650e6c87e7f28"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["243690"],"_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":"Simms is playing all the way around as a six-rotation outside for Issaquah and is showing a huge jump in her efficiency and scoring over last season. The athletic outside is swinging at a .286 clip, an excellent number for a sophomore attacker playing against a tough early-season schedule. Simms has been delivering a tough and accurate serve, with 8 aces and only 2 errors, another great improvement over her freshman season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["460666"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Two outside hitters for the Garfield Bulldogs are among the top 15 in the state in hitting percentage, u003cstrongu003eTaya Poydrasu003c/strongu003e and u003cstrongu003eNicole Kwatinetzu003c/strongu003e, and the setter dishing out the sweet assists is Steinwinder. The sophomore is strong enough to push the ball to the pins with good height to let the high-flying Garfield attackers slam it down. Steinwinder plays solid defense in the right back, she can handle a big swing with her platform and sees the off-speed shot well. Most important for a setter, The Bulldogs have an excellent 6-1 record heading into week 4 of the season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["460668"],"_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":"Bryan is a six-foot middle blocker who has been tough to deal with for attackers facing off against her Sumner squad. She is going to work hard on every point to close the block, and she is processing the play in front of her to get an early read on the attackers. Sumner leaves Bryant in to serve and she works a deep serve in and hustles to play defense in the back row while she is in. She is a tough blocker when teamed with 6'2 Freshman u003cstrongu003eKawehi Bordenu003c/strongu003e. Borden is a player to keep an eye on in the class of 2027.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["460709"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Shurtleff is a fearless attacker, finding high hands and blasting through tiny seams in the block. She has been posting multiple doubles-double matches for Selah, and the 2026 has shown added accuracy and confidence attacking from the pipe. Shurtleff torched East Valley Yakima for 21 kills last week and is showing the confidence of a go-to pin attacker.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["460708"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Mead is working towards another 3A State tournament run, after placing 1st and 2nd the last two seasons. Demant is finding a role as an excellent server, consistent passer and tough defender. Playing as both an outside and right side, Demant is averaging over 10 digs a match and has already racked up over 25 aces on the season. She is an athletic 5'10 and can deliver a crucial kill or block when the Panthers need it.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650e6c87e8052"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/janaedemant_vball/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/janaedemant_vball/?hl=en</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->