Volleyball players who could play in the entire rotation were in high demand this season in the Mid-Valley.
West Salem senior Kasey Campbell rarely left the court, and it showed. She had 281 kills, 237 digs, 38 aces, 27 assists and 24 blocks.
McNary senior Sydney Hunter grew into an all-around role. She had 347 kills, but also 124 digs, 34 blocks and 31 aces.
Crosshill Christian senior Hannah Schanz had always been an all-around player. But this seasons she had 258 assists, 130 kills, 76 aces, 70 digs and 11 blocks.
Beyond the 1,043 assists that West Salem senior Mattie Kelly had, she had 118 digs, 47 kills, 28 blocks and 19 aces.
South Salem junior Selbie Christensen asserted herself as a premier player. She had 369 kills, and 207 digs, but also contributed 68 aces and 35 blocks.
And of course West Salem senior Paige Whipple had another amazing season. She had an astounding 517 kills and also had 268 digs, 42 aces, 34 blocks and 20 assists.
This is the Statesman Journal’s All-Mid-Valley volleyball team for 2016.
FIRST TEAM
Kasey Campbell
West Salem’s Kasey Campbell celebrates after a the Titans are awarded a point in a game against South Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at West Salem High School. The West Salem Titans won the match 3-1.
Year: Senior.
School: West Salem.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 5-9.
Statistics: Campbell had 281 kills, 237 digs, 38 aces, 27 assists, 24 blocks and a 1.97 passing percentage.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference; Class 6A honorable mention all-state.
Selbie Christensen
South Salem’s Selbie Christensen (6) celebrates a point against West Salem during a Greater Valley Conference match, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, in West Salem, Ore. West Salem won 3-0.
Year: Junior.
School: South Salem.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-3.
Statistics: Christensen had 369 kills, 207 digs, 68 aces, 35 blocks and a 2.00 passing percentage.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference.
Sydney Hunter
McNary’s Sydney Hunter goes up for a spike in a game against South Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at West Salem High School. The South Salem Saxons won the match-up 3-0.
Year: Senior.
School: McNary.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-1.
Statistics: Hunter had 347 kills, 124 digs, 34 blocks and 31 aces.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference; Class 6A honorable mention all-state.
Mattie Kelly
West Salem’s Mattie Kelly (10) sets the ball in the OSAA Class 6A quarterfinal volleyball match of Clackamas vs. West Salem at Liberty High School in Hillsboro on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. West Salem lost in four sets.
Year: Senior.
School: West Salem.
Position: Setter.
Height: 5-10.
Statistics: Kelly had 1,043 assists, 118 digs, 47 kills, 28 blocks and 19 aces.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference.
Hannah Schanz
Crosshill Christian’s Hannah Schanz sets the ball during their game with Eagles the Country Christian Cougars on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, in Turner, Ore.
Year: Senior.
School: Crosshill Christian.
Position: Setter/middle blocker.
Height: 5-9.
Statistics: Schanz had 258 assists, 130 kills, 76 aces, 70 digs and 11 blocks.
Honors: First-team all-Casco League; Casco League player of the year; all-Casco district tournament team; second-team Class 1A all-tournament.
Paige Whipple
West Salem’s Paige Whipple (12) spikes the ball past Clackamas’ Calla Meyer (6) and Kayley Andersen (3) in the OSAA Class 6A quarterfinal volleyball match of Clackamas vs. West Salem at Liberty High School in Hillsboro on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. West Salem lost in four sets.
Year: Senior.
School: West Salem.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-2.
Statistics: Whipple had 517 kills, 268 digs, 42 aces, 34 blocks, 20 assists and a 2.06 passing percentage.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference; Greater Valley Conference player of the year; first-
SECOND TEAM
Sydney Brown
Salem Academy’s Sydney Brown (14) plays in the Burns vs. Salem Academy volleyball match, in the first round of 3A playoffs, at Salem Academy High School on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Burns won the match in five sets.
Year: Junior.
School: Salem Academy.
Position: Middle blocker.
Height: 6-1.
Honors: First-team all-PacWest Conference; PacWest Conference player of the year.
Rachel Howard
Blanchet Catholic senior Rachel Howard
Year: Senior.
School: Blanchet Catholic.
Position: Middle blocker.
Height: 5-8.
Statistics: Howard had 163 kills, 120 blocks, 92 digs and 52 aces.
Honors: First-team all-PacWest Conference.
Tori Lewis
Cascade’s Meriah Kindell (3) and Tori Lewis (7) both go after the ball in the Henley vs. Cascade volleyball match, in the first round of 4A playoffs, at Cascade High School in Turner on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.
Year: Junior.
School: Cascade.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 5-8.
Honors: First-team all-Oregon West Conference; Oregon West Conference player of the first; Class 4A first-team all-state.
Bridgette O’Connor
South Salem’s Bridgette O’Connor gets the ball past a pair of West Salem defenders during a Greater Valley Conference match, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, in West Salem, Ore. West Salem won 3-0.
Year: Junior
School: South Salem.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-0.
Statistics: O’Cononor had 382 kills, 198 digs, 58 aces, 18 blocks and a 1.81 passing percentage.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference.
Rebeka Preston
Santiam Christian’s Rebeka Preston
Year: Junior.
School: Santiam Christian.
Position: Middle blocker/outside hitter.
Height: 5-9.
Honors: First-team all-West Valley League; first-team Class 3A all-tournament.
Delaney Smith
West Salem’s Delaney Smith spikes the ball as the Titans defeat Lake Oswego in the second round of the OSAA Class 6A state playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at West Salem High School.
Year: Senior.
School: West Salem.
Position: Middle blocker.
Height: 6-2.
Statistics: Smith had 221 kills, 78 blocks and 17 assists.
Honors: First-team all-Greater Valley Conference.
COACH
Julie Bennett
Crosshill Christian Head Coach Julie Bennett talks with her team during a timeout during their game with Country Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, in Turner, Ore.
Year: Third.
School: Crosshill Christian.
Honors: Casco League coach of the year.
Accomplishments: Bennett led the Eagles to a 19-4 record, including sweeping the Casco League with a 10-0 record, guided the team to its first Class 1A state tournament appearance and a fifth place state tournament trophy.
Senior Delaney Smith, of the West Salem volleyball team, photographed on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016.
Senior Paige Whipple, of the West Salem volleyball team, photographed on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016.
McNary senior Sydney Hunter
Senior Kasey Campbell, of the West Salem volleyball team, photographed on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016.
Sydney Brown for Salem Academy girls basketball
Hannah Schanz, a senior volleyball player, stands for a photo at Crossbill Christian School in Turner on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016.
West Salem senior Mattie Kelly
South Salem junior Selbie Christiensen
South Salem junior Bridgette O’Connor