The nugget., August 29, 2018, Page 11, Image 11

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
11
Outlaws ready for season in Oregon West League
By Rongi Yost
Correspondent
Sisters varsity volleyball
graduated five strong seniors
this past spring, leaving big
shoes to fill. Six players
return to the varsity squad and
six new players will be added
to the roster.
The veteran players
include seniors Kendra Sitz
and Sydney Head, juniors
Sam Silva and Addy Myhre,
and sophomores Ellie Rush
and Sophie Silva.
Sitz worked hard during
the off-season, has become
much stronger, and will play
outside hitter. Last year,
Kendra played after com-
ing off an ACL surgery and
according to Coach Rory
Rush found herself to be timid
at times. This year, she’s back
at full strength in her fourth
year on varsity and will be a
force to contend with on the
outside.
Head is also a fourth-year
varsity player and this sea-
son will take over the starting
libero spot. Rush noted that
Head is ready to anchor the
back row as the Outlaws’ top
defensive specialist. Sydney,
along with Kendra, will pro-
vide leadership to the young
squad.
Silva returns to her role
as a starting outside hit-
ter from the Outlaws’ State
Championship team. Sam will
be a threat on the outside, and
will also provide solid passing
in the back row. With only a
handful of upperclassmen this
year, the Outlaws will also
look to Sam for leadership on
the floor.
Myhre will play at both
right side and at setter. Addy
worked hard on the off-season
to establish herself as a setter,
and a strong right-side hitter.
She will bring her knowledge
of the game to the floor, and
will provide a strong block on
the right side.
Rush returns in her role
as setter from the State
Championship team. Ellie
learned a lot from setter
Hawley Harrer last year, and
is excited to bring her knowl-
edge of the game to the floor
as she leads the offense. Ellie
was one of the Outlaws’ top
servers last year, and the team
will look to her for accuracy
from the serving line again
this year.
Rounding out the return-
ing players is middle-hitter
Sophie Silva, who played
middle on last years’ winning
squad. Sophie will bring both
intensity and consistency at
PHOTO BY BECKY AYLOR
The SHS varsity volleyball team trekked to the Oregon Coast for a jamboree last weekend.
the net. She’s explosive when
she hits, and when she blocks
her timing has the ability
to frustrate hitters from the
opposing team. She was also
one of the team’s top servers
last year, and they will look to
her for that same effectiveness
again this season.
Six new players, juniors
Maddison Anderson and
Rianna McGonagle, sopho-
mores Natalie and Tatum Sitz,
and freshmen Greta Davis and
Sydney Myhre will complete
the roster for the young squad.
Anderson and McGonagle
will both see time at the
right side. Maddison will
bring court awareness and
athleticism to the team, and
Rianna, who took off last sea-
son, worked hard to get back
on the court.
Natalie will be an added
addition as a passer in the
back row, and the team is
excited to have her competi-
tiveness and consistency in
the back. Tatum improved her
hitting in the off-season, and
she will bring athleticism and
enthusiasm to the team as an
outside hitter.
Davis is expected to
be a strong and consistent
player in the middle for the
Outlaws. She’s quick, and
will bring strength to the mid-
dle. Sydney Myhre is a great
passer, understands the game
well, and will add consistency
in the back row.
Rush told The Nugget
that they are excited to con-
tinue the strong traditions of
Outlaw volleyball this year.
“This is a great group of
volleyball players, and they
are ready for the challenge.
They’ve been working hard
this off-season to make this a
great season. This team brings
to the floor competitiveness
and grit every time they play.
We are ready to enter our
new league, the Oregon West
Conference, and once again
establish ourselves as one of
the top teams.”