Wednesday, August 31, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
Volleyball team prepares for season
By Rongi Yost
Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws, along
with new coach, Rod Jones,
have been hard at work in
preparation for the upcoming
season.
Sisters brings nine play-
ers back to the varsity squad,
and hopes are high for another
great year.
Seniors Emma Houck,
Brooke Knirk, Alex Hartford;
juniors Hawley Harrer,
Ashlynn Cantwell, Jessie
Brigham, Erynn Ricker; and
sophomores Sydney Head
and Kendra Sitz all return as
experienced players who will
be expected to provide strong
leadership to the team.
Houck has two years of
experience under her belt and
is currently the only player
that has been named as a
team captain. Emma will play
middle hitter for the Outlaws
and has done an outstanding
job since practice began the
beginning of August. She is
a solid, reliable player and
Jones commented that Emma
is a good teammate who cares
about Sisters and her team.
Knirk returns for her
fourth year as a varsity player
and will also play middle hit-
ter. Brooke is a strong athlete
who jumps well and also has
a great arm.
“Brooke is learning tech-
nique, and when she does it
right she’s unstoppable, and
she knows it” said Jones. “It’s
fun to watch.”
Hartford also has three
years of varsity experi-
ence and will be one of the
Outlaws’ setters. Alex is a
tough competitor who loves
the game, and Jones stated she
is working hard to run a fast
offense.
Harrer has all the physical
tools, is skilled, and a very
good player.
“There is so much more
that Hawley can learn and get
better at to help her with the
challenges ahead,” said Jones.
“She could easily become
the most dominant player in
Oregon, but not without hard
work.”
Cantwell will start as an
outside hitter. Ashlynn is a
very aggressive player who
has been working hard at
practice.
“Ashlynn is learning how
to become a complete player,”
said Jones. “She wants to play
back row, and right now she’s
earned it.”
Brigham is a dynamite
player and sets the tone for the
match. Jesse is very skilled
and talented, and an aggres-
sive player. Jesse is an all-
around player, but will focus
her time at libero.
“It would be great to have
12 competitive attitudes like
Jesse on the team,” said Jones.
“What she does in the back
row is like having a dominant
hitter in the front.”
Ricker is a dynamic athlete
and is battling for a hitting
position.
“Erynn just has to work
hard and learn the game,” said
Jones. “It’s all in front of her.”
Head is an all-around
player who will play a dual
role for the Outlaws. Sydney
will play defense and will also
learn how to set for the future.
Jones stated she’s very coach-
able and will be battling for
playing time as a defensive
specialist.
Sitz can really jump, and
will start at outside hitter.
“Kendra is just a sopho-
more and can really get off
the ground. She’s just a little
puppy, all arms and legs,” said
Jones. “If she keeps learning
she’s gonna be a good one.”
Bailey Colindres (senior),
Mandi Calavan (junior),
Mattie Mynatt and Samantha
Silva (freshmen) will join the
team and round out the ros-
ter. Mattie and Samantha will
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hawley harrer blocks against Santiam Christian.
help out as hitters, Mandi will
hit and also play defensive
specialist, and Colindres will
play as a defensive specialist
and at setter.
Jones told The Nugget that
the newbies are a great group
of girls, and are all doing a
great job in practice. They
are all working hard, are very
coachable, and are fighting
for roles on the squad.
Although each of the hit-
ters will have a specific start-
ing position, they will learn
all the hitting positions. This
will allow them to be inter-
changeable, which will be
necessary due to the offense
that the Outlaws will run this
season.
“Everybody needs to be
responsible, make the right
choices, and have each oth-
ers’ backs,” Jones said of his
team. “The game is mentally,
physically, and technically
new to most of the kids, but
they’re grasping it all and ask-
ing good questions.”
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