Class 2A: Top Teams – Ridgefield
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 third week of our series, we present Class 2A.
Ridgefield
Ridgefield is certainly a force to reckon in the division, having won the last two State Championship titles after finishing third in 2017 and enjoying an undefeated 21-0 campaign last year. The Spudders will have big shoes to fill with the departure of four graduated seniors, most notably two-time Player of the Year outside hitter Delaney Nicoll, but the return of a pair of All-State second-team members in Allie Andrew Allie Andrew 6'4" | MB Ridgefield | 2021 State WA and Emilea Stepaniuk Emilea Stepaniuk 5'7" | DS/L Ridgefield | 2021 State WA give them the confidence that they have every right to dream about a three-peat.
Their three key players are:
Allie Andrew Allie Andrew 6'4" | MB Ridgefield | 2021 State WA – Middle-Blocker – Senior
Allie Andrew Allie Andrew 6'4" | MB Ridgefield | 2021 State WA was already a central piece in Ridgefield’s system last year, when she was an All-State second-team selection, and she should grow to an even larger role next season. At 6’4”, she has the size and the skill to be the team’s go-to scoring option, as she showed in last year’s State Championship final, when she had 12 kills. Andrew is also an outstanding blocker and her talent has already been spotted by Baylor, which secured a commitment from prepdig.com’s second-placed player in the class of 2021 ranking.
Emilea Stepaniuk Emilea Stepaniuk 5'7" | DS/L Ridgefield | 2021 State WA – Libero/Defensive Specialist – Senior
Emilea Stepaniuk Emilea Stepaniuk 5'7" | DS/L Ridgefield | 2021 State WA is one of the main reasons for Ridgefield’s solid defensive system. The 5’7” libero is a back-to-back All-State second-team member and her great play last year, which was highlighted by a 27-dig performance in the State Championship final against Ellensburg, cemented her ninth spot – an unusually high position for a defensive player – in prepdig.com’s class of 2021 rankings.
Kohana Fukuchi Kohana Fukuchi 5'6" | S Ridgefield | 2021 State WA – Setter – Senior
Setters typically have prominent roles in championship-winning teams and it was no different with Kohana Fukuchi Kohana Fukuchi 5'6" | S Ridgefield | 2021 State WA last year. The 5’6” prospect did a great job in orchestrating the Spudders’ offense and putting her teammates in a great position to score. With go-to scoring option Nicoll gone, Fukuchi will need to restructure her game, but she’s mature and talented enough to be just as efficient as she was last season. She ranks 36th at prepdig.com’s class of 2021 ranking.