Wednesday, August 30, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
Volleyball program returns top-notch players
By Rongi Yost
Correspondent
The girls volleyball squad
returns eight players this sea-
son. Several come back with
all-league and all-state hon-
ors under their belts.
Senior setter Hawley
Harrer returns for her final
season, before she heads to
UCLA as a Division 1 player.
Harrer has earned numerous
awards, including last year’s
4A State Player of the Year.
She was the Sky-Em Player
of the Year in both 2015 and
2016, and earned first-team
all-league in 2014, 2015,
and 2016. In 2016, Hawley
was selected as Sisters High
School’s Female Athlete of
the Year. In 2017, she was
finalist for the Oregon Prep
Volleyball Player of the Year
and also a finalist for the
Oregon Prep Athlete of the
Year.
Harrer is a tremendous
athlete and volleyball player
and will be a leader on the
floor this year. Coach Rory
Rush told The Nugget that
her level and knowledge of
the game will raise the level
of play for the entire team.
Jessie Brigham is also a
senior and will return as the
Outlaws’ libero (defensive
specialist). Brigham has also
earned many top-level hon-
ors, including first-team all-
league in 2014, 2015, and
2016, and first-team all-state
in 2015 and 2016. She was
also selected second-team
all-state in 2014. Jessie has
an amazing ability to read
and anticipate the ball, and
will be a force in the back
row for the Outlaws. Rush
said that Jessie brings inten-
sity and passion to the court
that will elevate play.
Ashlynn Cantwell (senior)
is a second-team all-leaguer
and will play outside hitter.
Cantwell is a solid all-around
player, and her strength and
quickness will bring a pow-
erful attack from the outside.
Cassidy Ling-Scott will
see time at both the right side
and setter. Cassidy took last
year off from volleyball, but
returns as a senior for her
final year. Ling-Scott has
great hands and will play
opposite from Harrer. She
will also bring intensity to
the Outlaws’ right side.
Erynn Ricker (senior) is
an outstanding athlete and
volleyball player. Erynn will
play at middle hitter and will
bring quickness and power to
that position.
Juniors Sydney Head and
Kendra Sitz (junior) will
both see time at outside hit-
ter. Head, in addition to out-
side hitter, will also play as
a defensive specialist and be
a valuable asset in the back
row. Sitz is returning from
an ACL surgery after missing
half of the 2016 season. She’s
been dedicated to her recov-
ery and will bring a powerful
attack on the outside. Kendra
is very versatile and has the
ability to play any position.
Sophomore Samantha
Silva is a great utility player
and is able to play any posi-
tion with intensity and con-
sistency. Rush stated that
Samantha is a great team
player and her teammates
trust she will get the job
done.
Five new players will
join the Lady Outlaws this
year, including sophomores
Ad el y n M y h re, M at t i e
Mynatt, and Maddison
Anderson. Freshmen Ellie
Rush and Sophie Silva will
round out the roster.
Myhre will get some time
and experience in at the set-
ter position, and according
to Rush, will most probably
take over as setter next year.
Mynatt will also gain expe-
rience at the varsity level.
Rush noted that with so many
players graduating this year,
Mattie will need to be ready
to be a force at the net next
year. Anderson will see time
at both the right side and as
a defensive specialist, Rush
will see time at setter, and
Silva will play middle.
Our returning
players have so much
they can teach our
up-and-coming talented
players about the game...
— Coach Rory Rush
Rush said, “This year we
have a solid group of expe-
rienced players and athletes
returning from a historic sea-
son. Our core group brings
lots of experience playing
at the high school level, and
being recognized as some of
the top players around the
state.
“This year we look to
continue the winning tradi-
tion, build on past success,
and continue to build a cohe-
sive fundamental foundation
in our program for years to
come. Our returning players
have so much they can teach
our up-and-coming talented
players about the game and
how to bring intensity to the
floor. I am looking to them
to be leaders on and off the
floor as we look to continue
to grow as a program and
make our community proud. I
am excited to lead this group
of young ladies as we embark
on an exciting season.”