The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The volleyball team returns 11 players to their varsity squad, and will add one more to round out their roster.

Sisters will compete in a strong Oregon West Conference and won’t be able to overlook any of their opponents. Their third-place finish last year is still vivid in their memory, as well as their two losses to league foe Sweet Home, and they are excited to face the Huskies on the court again this year.

Back for their final season are seniors Sam Silva, Addy Myhre, Maddison Anderson, and Rianna McGonagle.

Sam Silva returns in her role as a starting outside hitter, and will be a threat on the outside, and will also provide solid passing in the back row. As a four-year varsity player, the Outlaws will look to Silva to provide leadership on and off the court.

Anderson will bring athleticism and strong court awareness to the team, and will also frustrate teams with her timing on the block. McGonagle will play on the right side and will bring leadership and energy to the squad. The Outlaws will look to Rianna to bring a strong block and a quick attack on the right side.

Myhre will play on the right side and at setter. Addy has worked hard in the off season to establish herself as a setter, and also a strong right-side hitter. Coaches will look to Addy to bring her knowledge of the game to the floor, as well as provide a strong block on the right side. She also has a great serve that will upset many opponents.

Juniors Ellie Rush, Sophie Silva, Natalie Sitz, and Anessa Stotts also return for another season.

Rush is back in her role as setter and as a floor leader. The team will look to Ellie to speed up the offense this year and bring her knowledge of the game to the court. Ellie was one of the Outlaws’ top servers last year, and the team will look to her for consistency from the serving line again this year.

Sophie Silva will play at outside hitter and in the middle, and returns as one of the Outlaws’ top hitters. Sophie is a very versatile hitter and has the ability to play at any position, and she brings intensity and consistency when playing the net. Her hits are explosive and her timing on the block can shake up hitters from the opposing team. Sophie was also one of the Outlaws’ top servers last season, and the team will look to her for that same level of consistency this year.

Natalie Sitz will play at outside hitter and also as a defensive specialist. Natalie is a competitive player and expected to be a great passer for the Outlaws in the back row. Tatum Sitz will also be an outside hitter. Tatum suffered an injury last season and in the off-season worked hard to improve her hitting and passing. The team is excited to see the athleticism and enthusiasm she will bring to the team this year. Stotts will see time as an outside hitter and a defensive specialist. Anessa will bring power and quickness to the floor as both a passer and a hitter.

Greta Davis (sophomore) returns as both a middle and outside hitter. Greta will be a strong and consistent hitter, and her quickness and power will make her a force in the Outlaws offense from any hitting position. She has an infectious energy on the court and is establishing herself as a floor leader this year.

Sydney Myhre (sophomore) also worked hard during the off-season and will bring consistency to the back row. She’s a great passer and understands the game well.

Sydney Wright is the lone new addition to the squad. Wright was a team captain on the JV squad last year and filled many different roles. She has the ability to play at any position and will bring quickness and intensity to the floor.

After graduating Player of the Year Kendra Sitz, the Lady Outlaws will look to fill her role on the outside as well as speed up their offense this year. They have a deep bench and will try to frustrate teams with different rotations, and hitters playing in different roles.

Coach Rory Rush said, “We are focused on fine tuning our game and continuing the strong traditions that have been known for Sisters volleyball. This is a great group of volleyball players and they are up for the challenge. They’ve been working hard this off-season to make this a great year. This team brings to the floor competitiveness and grit every time they play.”