Class 2B: Top Teams – Mossyrock
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. As our series reaches its fourth week, it’s time to address Class 2B.
Mossyrock
Mossyrock was the only team in the division to finish in the top-three in each of the last three seasons with a third-place finish in 2019 and back-to-back second-places in 2017 and 2018. Their championship window seems to be closing with the graduation of a couple of All-State first-team seniors in 2019 Co-Player of the Year Andee Nelson and libero Fatih Mulligan, but if their young talent steps up, the Viking might have yet another opportunity to win their first title in the division.
Their three key players are:
Payton Torrey – Outside Hitter – Sophomore
If anyone has indicated she could carry Mossyrock’s torch in the future during last season, it was outside hitter Payton Torrey. The 5’8” prospect had a stellar freshman season with the Vikings, being the team’s second-best hitter only behind Nelson with 145 kills. She also showed her versatility offering important contributions in other areas of the game with her 37 aces, 214 digs and 197 passes.
Hailey Brooks – Middle-Blocker/Right Sider – Sophomore
Hailey Brooks is another young prospect that made the feeling that there’s life in Mossyrock after Nelson grow during the 2019 campaign. In her first year of high school volleyball, the 5’8” player split her time between middle-blocker and right sider duties for the Vikings and did very well, especially with her blocking (40 points) and serving (55 aces), two categories in which she led the team. Brooks also tallied a team’s third-best 74 kills and helped on defense with 146 digs.
Morgan Houghtelling – Setter – Senior
Morgan Houghtelling’s smart and accurate ball distribution was crucial for Mossyrock making the most of Nelson’s and Torrey’s offensive firepower on last year’s campaign. The 5’7” setter will have to adjust her strategy with one of her star outside hitter no longer in the picture next season, but that shouldn’t be a problem for a prospect that handed out 478 assists last year to go with 153 digs and 42 aces for the Vikings.