Class 1B: The One-Woman Shows
The next high school volleyball season won’t start in Washington until March 2021, but there’s absolutely no reason why we should wait until there to know more about the best teams in each class. In this series, we’ll dissect each…
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Continue ReadingThe next high school volleyball season won’t start in Washington until March 2021, but there’s absolutely no reason why we should wait until there to know more about the best teams in each class. In this series, we’ll dissect each of the state’s six divisions by analyzing the top teams and the most promising players and what we can expect from them when the balls are finally allowed to fly. In the second week, we bring some info on Class 1B.
The One-Woman Shows
One of the most interesting things about high school sports is that you won’t see super teams formed as often as you do in pro sports as players pick their schools based on their locations, not on higher salaries or better playing opportunities. That spreads the talent pool in a relatively wide way, making competition more entertaining and, in some cases, allows players to stand out in such a formidable way that they become true one-woman armies for their teams.
These are five players who were in this situation last season and will probably be again on the next one:
Bree Dawson – Outside Hitter – Senior – Selkirk
Bree Dawson has been Selkirk’s best player for the entirety of her high school career and even if she couldn’t take the Rangers to the State Championships last year she was still impressive with 81 kills, 54 digs and 16 aces. The 5’9” outside hitter received All-State team nominations in each of the last two seasons, getting an honorable mention in 2018 and being a second-team member in 2019.
Anna Williams – Middle-Blocker – Senior – Pateros
Anna Williams is also a track and field athlete and the physicality she brings to Pateros makes the Nannies a much better team. The 5’10” middle-blocker is easily the team’s most important player mostly due to her strong presence at the net, but she can also help on defense. Her promising performance propelled her to be an All-State second-team player in 2019.
Chantelle Isaacson – Outside Hitter – Junior – Three Rivers Christian
Chantelle Isaacson’s main strength is to be solid in virtually every volleyball skill and that makes of her a very valuable piece for Three Rivers Christian. The 5’7” outside hitter reached interesting numbers in basically every aspect of her game doing the 2019 season, leading the Eagles in blocks (66) and ranking second in kills (202), aces (96) and digs (178).
Josie Schultheis – Outside Hitter – Senior – Colton
Josie Schultheis was an absolute stud for Colton last season. The 5’7” outside hitter used her all-around game to be one of those rare players who impact every aspect of the game for the Wildcats last season. Schultheis was not only the team’s top offensive option, registering 186 kills to her name, but also the Wildcats’ best defensive player, tallying 357 digs and 191 passes.
Eliza Stark – Middle-Blocker – Senior – Northport
There’s nothing Eliza Stark cannot due on a volleyball court. The Northport prospect led her team in three stats categories in 2019, including digs (108) and passes (129), highly unusual for a middle-blocker – Stark was also the team’s top attacker with 129 kills. The 5’11” player has also done well when serving (fourth in the team with 47 aces) and blocks (second, with 23).