By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– With the dawn of the season coming up on the horizon, the South Salem Volleyball team held their annual Red and White Night at South Salem High School to showcase who’s on the team this year and to showcase the work they’ve been doing in practice to this points.
“It’s so much fun. It’s good for us to go out and work out some nerves, but also have fun as a team and showcase some things we’ve been working on in practice. It’s been a really fun night,” said Briella Mathis.
Mathis had a breakout year of sorts her Junior year with the Saxons. During South Salem’s run to fifth-place in 6A last Fall, Mathis collected 541 kills, 425 digs and had 83 aces on the year to help contribute to the Saxons strong season. Something that she’s hoping with the returners that they have coming back and the team they have entering the season ahead.
“Last year was such a great experience as a team. We really worked so well together, especially at the end when we got to State and got to those long matches. we were together, and that was the highlight of how well we were working together,” said Mathis. “”Being able to go to State for the past two years has given us so much experience and for these returners coming back, we know what it is like, so we’re going to be ready to go back this year,”
Entering this season, the Saxons return a solid core with Mathis, Leah Ioane, and Kamree Orizotti returning. The Herber twins transferring in from Western Christian.that adds some more power hitting to the South Salem line-up as they head into the Mountain View tournament this weekend.
“I’m super excited about that one, it’s one of my favorite tournaments because it gives us a chance to figure out the little things that we need to work on and get familiar with some competition over there,” Mathis said of the tournament.
The Saxons will head to Sprague following the Mountain View Tournament on September 9 to open Central Valley Conference play before hosting North Salem on September 11 for their home opener.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
