Accolades add up with an undefeated season and Coach of the Year!
THE STATS...
Undefeated Southern Oregon Conference Champions 10-0
Season record 20-3
1A/2A/3A State Champions, undefeated in state tournament
Chris Kranenburg -All State Honorable Mention
Cole Mayfield - All State 2nd Team
Kent David - All State 1st Team
Connor Gibbs - All State 1st Team
Katie Miller - 1A/2A/3A State Coach of the Year
First season of boys volleyball in the state of Oregon
First emerging sport as voted on and recognized by the OSAA
THE STORY...
For many of the players on the varsity boys volleyball team their first exposure to the sport came at the height of the pandemic. When all indoor gyms and schools were closed, we opened our fields up to grass volleyball, creating leagues and tournaments. From there, some of the boys continued to pursue the sport, playing club in the winter. The vote by OSAA to list boys volleyball as the first emerging sport in the state of Oregon opened the door for our boys to compete for their school - the greatest honor in youth sports. From the start, the boys set their sights on a state championship, each win bringing them closer. Captains Connor Gibbs and Kent David provided the spark to the offense with their explosive hitting and strategic placement, but opponents had to deal with multiple offensive weapons from the front including Cole Mayfield and Chris Kranenburg. Setting up our offensive weapons was CJ Seggelink who amassed a season match high of 32 assists. Opponents found it difficult to find the court against our aggressive defense led by Kent David, Cole Mayfield, and Alex Xu. Utility player Nolan Hensman provided momentum in any position he played, often catching opponents on their heels with his tip placement. Richie Owens and Julian Estrada, defensive specialists, picked up the opponent's attacks before they hit the floor and provided serving variations to keep opponent's guessing. Both held multiple responsibilities on the court. Dang Nguyen, an international graduate, also played as a defensive specialist and provided consistent serves during an important set of league play.