Looking ahead to the 2021 high school volleyball season
With the truncated, pandemic-impacted 2020 season fading into the distance, it's time to look ahead to the 2021 high school volleyball season.
Across the courts of Clackamas County, returning league champions West Linn (from the Three Rivers League) and Wilsonville (from the Northwest Oregon Conference) will be joined by returning powers at Lake Oswego, Clackamas and La Salle, up-and-coming teams at Lakeridge, Oregon City, Putnam, Milwaukie and Gladstone, and newcomer Adrienne C. Nelson.
Read more about each team's 2021 prospects below.
Three Rivers League
Lake Oswego
Head coach:Â Nikki Jones
2020-21 record:Â 6-3 in Three Rivers League play, 6-3 overall
2021 outlook:Â "Last year at Lake Oswego, our record was 6-3. We tied with Tualatin for second and we are looking very strong this fall." — Nikki Jones
League contenders:Â Â West Linn, Oregon City, Tualatin, Lake Oswego
Top players:Â Senior middle blocker Morghn Monahan, junior setter Grace Wollmuth, senior libero Emma Cory, senior outside hitter Camille Myers
Lakeridge
Head coach:Â Wendy Stammer
2020-21 record:Â 4-6 in Three Rivers League play, 4-6 overall
2021 outlook:Â "We have had some amazing growth just from our short season last March. We lost a few major players, but it seems like we have more depth this season. I'm looking forward to seeing what this team can do when we put all of the pieces together." — Wendy Stammer
League contenders:Â West Linn, Lake Oswego
Top players:Â Â Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Hamlin, senior outside hitter Ema Meier, junior setter/oppo Lila Strupp, junior outside hitter Niyah Coleman, senior outside hitter Maddy Massari, senior defensive specialist Marlie Wear
Oregon City
Head coach:Â Erica Frafjord
2020-21 record:Â 4-7 in Three Rivers League play, 5-7 overallÂ
2021 outlook:Â "The Pioneers are ready to compete this year. The TRL is one of the most competitive leagues so we have to be ready for every match, but when we're playing well, we will be a challenge for any team." — Erica Frafjord
League contenders:Â Oregon City, West Linn, Tualatin
Top players:Â Senior outside hitter Emma Pruitt, senior outside hitter Emma Cereghino, freshmen outside hitter Paige Thies, junior libero Samantha Keightley, sophomore middle blocker Olivia Adamo
West Linn
Head coach:Â Emilie Wilmes
2020-21 record: 10-0 in Three Rivers League play, 11-1 overall Â
2021 outlook:Â "Even though we had some big pieces to the team graduate last year, we do have some very talented returners with a good amount of experience. The team is super excited to get this season going." — Emilie Wilmes
League contenders: West Linn, Tualatin, Lake Oswego
Top players: Senior outside hitter Emily Warmenhoven, senior setter Shealyn Cecil, junior outside hitter Amyah Semau, junior outside hitter Addison Hoover, senior defensive specialist Audrey Shih, senior defensive specialist Lila Skates, senior middle blocker Ella Nordquist, senior middle blocker Rayna ReynoldsÂ
Mt. Hood Conference
Clackamas
Head coach:Â Nathan Blankenship
2020-21 record:Â 7-4 in Mt. Hood Conference play, 7-4 overall
2021 outlook:Â "(We're) a senior-heavy team still adjusting to the split with Nelson High School." — Nathan Blankenship
League contenders:Â Clackamas,
Top players:Â Senior outside hitter Leah Agost, senior outside hitter Kendal Ishida, junior outside hitter Halsey Brumitt, senior libero Chloe Voytilla
Adrienne C. Nelson
Head coach:Â Lisa McBee
2020-21 record:Â N/A (first-year team)Â
2021 outlook: "(Our outlook is)Â outstanding. (We have) competitive and dynamic all-around athletes." — Lisa McBee
League contenders:Â Central, Clackamas, Nelson
Top players: Junior outside hitter Kali Lukovich, junior outside hitter Kaylie Christopher, junior outside hitter Ellie Cullison, freshman opposite/outside hitter Ella Gradner, freshman opposite/outside hitter Gabby, junior opposite Ava Sciulli, sophomore opposite Morgan Armitage, junior middle blocker Maddy Abraham, sophomore middle blocker Ava Maciag, senior libero/defensive specialist Avery Bergers, junior libero/defensive specialist Zoë Szczesniak, senior setter Ellie Wallis, sophomore setter Amelia Eubanks
Northwest Oregon Conference
La Salle
Head coach:Â Anna Dillard
2020-21 record:Â 10-1 in Northwest Oregon Conference play, 10-3 overall
2021 outlook: "We have a lot of players returning with experience and talent. Our players have a lot of passion from the game and are determined to make the most of every opportunity." — Anna Dillard
League contenders:Â Wilsonville, Parkrose, Putnam, St. Helens
Top players:Â Junior middle blocker Olivia Maulding, senior setter Mia McCaffrey, senior outside hitter Audrey Hibler, senior libero/defensive specialist Amanda Rivera
Milwaukie
Head coach:Â Carol York
2020-21 record:Â 0-11 in Northwest Oregon Conference play, 0-12 overall
2021 outlook:Â "We have six returners from last year's team and the addition of a freshman setter. We look pretty solid at all positions." — Carol York
League contenders:Â La Salle, Wilsonville
Top players:Â Senior middle blocker Kora Botta, junior middle blocker Ada Bondo, junior outside hitter Josie Hoff, junior outside hitter Jazell Allen, senior setter Erika Brewer, senior defensive specialist Madi Lankford freshman setter Moe Bondo
Putnam
Head coach:Â Amanda Wiedeman
2020-21 record:Â 5-6 in Northwest Oregon Conference play, 5-7 overall
2021 outlook:Â "We are a young and well-rounded team that is very driven to be the top of the league this year." — Amanda Wiedeman
League contenders:Â Wilsonville, La Salle, St. Helens
Top players:Â Junior setter Kate Barrett, sophomore middle blocker Rylee Lemen, junior middle blocker Ella Lord
Wilsonville
Head coach:Â Scott Thompson
2020-21 record:Â 10-1 in Northwest Oregon Conference play, 12-1 overall
2021 outlook: "From top to bottom, (the Northwest Oregon Conference) continues to improve, (but) we have a number of returning starters so I think we're capable of competing well every night." — Scott Thompson
League contenders:Â Wilsonville, La Salle, St. Helens
Top players:Â Senior outside hitter Ashli Edmiston, senior middle blocker Tatum Lubisich, senior libero Sophia Kleckner, senior outside hitter Sydney Bowen, junior setter/opposite side hitter Makenna Wiepert
Tri-Valley Conference
Gladstone
Head coach:Â Maggie YoungÂ
2020-21 record:Â 3-7 in Tri-Valley Conference play, 4-7 overall
2021 outlook:Â "We have six seniors and a lot of experienced players. We only lost one player from last year and have a really cohesive team. 2021 is looking like a really promising season." — Maggie Young
League contenders:Â Corbett, Molalla, North Marion, Estacada, Madras
Top players:Â Senior setter/outside hitter Michelle Downey, 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker Abi Holten, freshman all-around Kaia James, sophomore libero Cheyenne Cuny
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