Oregon high school volleyball: Top returning players, teams to watch in 1A

We examine the top returning players and teams to watch in Class 1A volleyball.

By René Ferrán

With only six weeks of competition and no state championship events, it won’t be a normal high school sports season. Nevertheless, we examine the top returning players and teams to watch in Class 1A volleyball. 

Earlier breakdowns:

Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A

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Returning all-state players

First team: S/OH Brooke Allen, Sr., Powder Valley; S/OH Savannah Hale, Sr., Damascus Christian.

Second team: MB Belle Blair, Sr., Powder Valley; OH Kelsie Siegner, Jr., Crane; DS Karlie Gilmer, Sr., Country Christian; L Bailey Cole, Sr., Powder Valley; S Megan Kruzic, Sr., Days Creek; MB Jessica Carlisle, Sr., Alsea.

Third team: S/OH Sabrina Albee, Sr., Joseph; S/RS Jordan Caldwell, Sr., St. Paul; L Samantha MacDowell, Jr., North Douglas; MB Lizzy Grandle, Jr., Country Christian.

Honorable mention: OH Ashtyn Slater, Sr., Days Creek; S Shelie Doman, Sr., Crane; MB Riley Davis, Sr., Crane; S/OH Sierra Hale, So., Damascus Christian; S Faith McCarty, Jr., Echo; MB Emma Bischoff, So., Rogue Valley Adventist; OH Madison Halverson, Sr., Country Christian; MB Rilea Mills, Jr., Central Christian; S/RS Katie Hire, Sr., Prairie City; MB Jade Jackson, Sr., Hosanna Christian.

Teams to watch

Damascus Christian

The Eagles placed fourth in their first state tournament appearance in the past nine seasons and bring back Valley 10 player of the year Savannah Hale among nine returners from their first league championship team since 2015.

Days Creek

The Wolves graduated Skyline player of the year Moriah Michaels and first-team all-state MB Joleen Crume from a team that placed third at state, but with all-state setter Kruzic and outside hitter Slater back along with all-league junior RS Shandiin Newton, they would have contended for a first state title since 2013.

Powder Valley

The Badgers have finished runner-up each of the past two seasons, and after graduating only two players from their latest second-place run, they were poised to finally break through for their first title since 2012. Besides their three all-state returners, they also bring back senior OH/S Keanna Bingham.

St. Paul

The two-time defending state champion Buckaroos graduated 1A player of the year OH Isabelle Wyss and all-state MB Erin Counts, but considering they’ve gone unbeaten against 1A opponents since dropping down in 2018, they’ll still be formidable. They return Caldwell from the all-state team among eight players back.