Ray adds ot the list of small-town outside hitters with eye-popping figures in almost every statistical category. Oakland-Craig is on a multi-year streak of postseason trips with all-around players like Ray paving the way. She chipped in with nearly 400 kills last fall, but Ray’s influence didn’t wane outside of these final contacts. Her 400 digs rival the state’s top liberos, adding to Ray’s invaluable presence in the Knights’ rotation. Even with O-C graduating some heavy hitters from last year’s crew, Ray is eager to uphold the standard that began with the turn of the decade.

Even as one game-changing Ray graduates, another rises to take her place. It was easy to get caught up in Briar Ray Briar Ray 5'9" | OH NE ‘s stat-stuffing excellence for Oakland-Craig last week, but the Knights can keep the postseason momentum rolling with her younger sister. The latest Ray iteration put down 17 kills and a team-high 19 digs during Oakland-Craig’s semifinal upset over Guardian Angels Central Catholic. Having an underclassman pin hitter with a full array of skills is a rare privilege. The Knights had that with Ray this fall, and they also have a future leader to rally around for future postseason pushes.

We’re on a run of last year’s tournament participants. Oakland-Craig has been a postseason fixture since the team’s championship triumph in 2021, and the standards haven’t changed with players like Ray leading the way. The sophomore was a major contributor to last year’s ascent, but the Knights have leaned on Ray even more this fall. She has neared triple-digit kills after only 24 sets played, and Ray also has 3.6 digs per set on her docket. Oakland-Craig has designs on another trip to Lincoln after opening this fall with a 9-2 mark.