By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MILL CITY, Ore.– Despite losing two seniors from their stellar 17-5 season, the Santiam Volleyball team are returning a solid core of returners with a good amount of experience as they closed out their first week of the season.
Behind that core features girls like Tenley Henness, Kadence Vandagriff and Aubrey Ohrt that will look to build off of what they did as a program last year. It wasn’t how they wanted last year to end, falling to Delphian in the Tri-River Conference League Playoff Title Game and Weston-McEwen in opening round of the 2A playoffs; however, with how that season was and the motivation of how it ended, the Wolverines are positive that they can do the same again this year.
“Last year was big, we all played with each other since we were kids. It was the first time all being on Varsity and I think we all got it down. It didn’t end like how we wanted it to, but this year we want it. Us five seniors play great together, we trust each other on the court, we know how we play,” said Ohrt. “Our goal is to take it as far as we can.”
For Ohrt, she’ll have her plate full this Fall taking over full-time for Maizy Downey at Setter. Ohrt has set before, having done so since Middle School, but admits that there’s a little bit of a learning curve there, but Ohrt is trusting in her teammates to help her in making those adjustments needed to be alright in the position this season.
“(Downey) was a great setter and it was great working with her with both of us setting on the court,” starts the senior. “I have to do that a little bit more this year since she’s gone and I think I can for sure, I think my teammates are going to help me with that, they can trust me to help me when I need help. It’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve, but I think I’ll be alright.”
Ohrt, like her teammates, will have a lot of reps ahead of them with practice next week and the jamboree on Thursday that they are hosting. Those reps are going to go a long way in preparation for their first game of the year on September 3 at Portland Christian against the Royals and Crosshill Christian.
“It’s going to be a big mind set for us because we’re getting ready for our jamboree and just being a team, talking and being together is going to be a big thing for us,” said Henness. “I think this year, with all of us seniors, we’ve been playing together for years and we’re ready for this season. This is our last season all together. It’s our season, let’s take it,”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
