Season Preview: 1A Teams To Watch
Chelan will be looking to make it a three-peat in 2022, having won the state title in 2109 and 2021, with no state tournament being played in 2020. It will be a tall task for any other of the 1A…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingChelan will be looking to make it a three-peat in 2022, having won the state title in 2109 and 2021, with no state tournament being played in 2020. It will be a tall task for any other of the 1A contenders to upset the Lady Goats, who boast a returning player of the year, and ten returners overall. Of course, there is a season and a state tournament to play, and upsets happen. These three teams have serious title aspirations as well and have enough great players to play with Chelan.
CHELAN
Olivia Strandberg is the returning player of the year in 1A and is the go-to player when the Lady Goats need a big point. Her senior experience will be a tremendous boost for the squad, and the senior outside hitter will be striving to leave the program having never finished out of first place in the state! Josie Garfoot returns in one middle blocker spot and Juliana Perez is a great setter who brings excellent leadership to the team; she provides the attackers with great chances to score. Kira Sandoval is a tremendous option along the front line and Sasha Dandridge may be just as skilled as Strandberg and has a heavy arm attacking from the outside. The Chelan one-two punch on the outside may be the best in the state at the 1A level.
CHARLES WRIGHT
After an opening round loss in 4 sets to meridian, Charles Wright won three straight to finish with a trophy. The team returns height, skill, and nine out of eleven players in their search to finish above the 7th place spot this year. Emma Wang has great size and skill as a middle for the Tarriers, a great player the team can build around. Whitney Van Gorkum is the other middle for the squad, she led the team in total blocks last season. Natalie Piasecki is the leading attacker back in the fold, is an excellent server, and also sets. Kate Piasecki led the team in assists, aces, and digs and is tremendous all around.
FREEMAN
Ava Semprimoznik will be taking over the setter duties for the departed Abbie Amend and is ready to step into an energy and leadership role for the Scotties, It should be a breakout year for the rising junior. Aspyn Reed has the bounce to make plays on the outside and is versatile enough to swing from any position along the front row. Senior Olivia Campbell leads an experienced defense from the libero position and will have help from 6’2, athletic middle Jaycee Goldsmith, the sweet-swinging lefty right side Cameron LaMotte, and versatile Drew Crowley. Crowley is an athletic defender and attacker with quality length. The Scotties are experienced and deep and looking for a top-three finish in 2022.
MERIDIAN
It’s always a winning formula to have coaches’ kids, on the volleyball court; they have been around the game their entire life and typically have an excellent feel for the action. The Trojans have that covered with Emry Claeys Emry Claeys 6'1" | OH Meridian | 2024 State WA and Hayden Claeys, both back for head coach Shannon Claeys. Emry is outside with excellent all-around skills, and she will be fed the ball by Hayden, a senior setter and leader of the Meridian offense. Avery Neal is an all-state performer from the libero spot, and has good size for the position, helping her cover the court. Jessica Pounder returns at one middle blocker spot, and the senior will be shouldering more of the offensive load this season.