Senior Defensive Specialists at PrepDig/Baden PNW Invitational
Over the weekend of August 1st I had the privilege of covering the PrepDig/Baden Pacific Northwest Invitational Training Camp. The camp was structured to bring the best athletes in Oregon and Southwest Washington into one facility and let them compete.…
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Continue ReadingOver the weekend of August 1st I had the privilege of covering the PrepDig/Baden Pacific Northwest Invitational Training Camp. The camp was structured to bring the best athletes in Oregon and Southwest Washington into one facility and let them compete. With COVID-19 the opportunities for athletes to compete have been severely limited, so this was a great chance to get the best of the best in one place. While some players were not able to attend, the Courts were filled with forty-seven incredible volleyball players. Be on the lookout for content coming highlighting players in attendance.
Below are the senior defensive specialists who represented their class and position well at the camp.
Caitlin Gay, 5’7″, DS, Canby High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy
What makes Gay such a special player is the consistency she brings to the back row. Across all aspects of her game, she plays with a level head, not letting a shanked pass phase her. She has impeccable court awareness which helps her react quickly on defense. Her steady serve recieve passes keep her teammates as in system as possible.
Check out her perfect serve receive pass!
Gay had an interesting junior season, playing outside hitter for the Canby High School Cougars, even though she has played libero her entire career. Even though she played outside of normal position, she was awarded Three Rivers League Honorable Mention. In the previous season, she was awarded Three Rivers Second Team All-League as the Cougars libero. As a freshman, she made Three Rivers First Team All-League playing libero for Lakeridge High School, before transferring to her neighborhood public school, Canby. She helped the Cougars finish 3rd in the 6A State tournament this past season.
Last club season she was the libero for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 National.
Zoe Nguyen Zoe Nguyen 5'8" | DS/L St. Mary's Academy | 2021 State OR , 5’8″, DS/S, St. Mary’s Academy, Athena Volleyball Academy
What makes Nguyen such a special player is the all-out mentality and intensity she brings to the courts. This, coupled with her athleticism and versatility, make her an incredibly valuable asset to any team. With her experience as a setter on her high school team, it is not uncommon to see her take any ball she can with her hands in the defensive specialist role.
Check out her amazing one-handed up!
Nguyen had another stellar season for the St. Mary’s Academy Blue, stepping back into her role as their primary setter. During the club season, she trains as a defensive specialist, but the Blues needed a setter, and Nguyen rose to the challenge. She was awarded Three Rivers First Team All-League this past season for her exceptional play, as well as Three Rivers League Honorable Mention as a sophomore.
Last club season she was one of the libero’s for Athena Volleyball Academy’s 18-1 Gold team and was the lone junior on the roster.
Grace Clark Grace Clark 5'5" | DS/L Mountainside | 2021 State OR , 5’5″, DS, Mountainside High School, Athena Volleyball Academy
What makes Clark such a special player is her speed. This quickness combined with her athleticism helps her greatly in the back row. Her quick reaction on defense helps her to pick up the seemingly ungettable balls. All of this, combined with great court awareness and stellar communication make her an outstanding defensive specialist.
Check out her beautiful serve receive pass!
Clark had another great season with the Mountainside High School Mavericks, helping them secure a fourth-place finish in the 6A State tournament. As the team captain and starting libero her sophomore and junior season, she was awarded Metro First Team All-League. As a freshman, she was the libero for their JV team as Mountainside was a brand new school so they did not participate in any Varsity sports.
Last club season she was the libero for Athena 17-1 Gold.
Christin Kwon, 5’4″, DS, Clackamas High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy
What makes Kwon such a special player is her defense. This part of her game is what makes her stand out, she is able to get up balls that were destined to hit the floor. Incredibly determined to improve her game, she has put in the work at Redline Athletics in Clackamas, to improve her speed, agility, and quickness on the court which translates well for defense.
Check out her incredible ups in one play!
Kwon had another solid season for the Clackamas High School Cavaliers, as their starting libero for the second year in a row. She was awarded Mt. Hood Second Team All-League as both a junior and sophomore.
Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 17-1 National team.