Coach Jim Stultz is high on his Cavaliers
Clackamas High’s volleyball team is young, but the Cavaliers are tall and they’ve got tons of experience playing volleyball
CLACKAMAS – This is Jim Stultz’ 10th season coaching volleyball at Clackamas High School and Stultz says this year’s team is potentially one of the best he’s ever had.
“I think this team is one of the strongest teams I’ve had – based on the overall experience with club [volleyball],” said Stultz. “This team is unusual in that we have several girls that can play front and back row equally well.
“I’m excited! I think we’re going to have a competitive year.”
“I’m really excited!” said Clackamas senior Carly Hargrave. “We have a very young team. So I think people are going to underestimate us, and we’re going to do really well.”
“One of our goals is to be first in league,” said senior Haley Urdahl.
The team is young. There are only three seniors and there are four freshmen and three sophomores on the 13-player varsity roster. And only four players return from last year’s varsity.
But the players new to the roster are multi-talented. Last year’s jayvee went 11-1 in the Three Rivers League and 30-4 overall; last year’s freshmen went 12-0 in league and 28-3 overall.
The four freshmen new to the team this year have a combined total of 20 years of experience playing club volleyball. Three of them have played club with Stultz since grade school and last season Stultz’ freshmen placed ninth out of 120 teams in regional competition.
“[The freshmen are] young, but they’re very old in their ability and knowledge,” said Hargrave. “They’re competitive and they work really hard.”
“The freshmen are very good freshmen, so that’s exciting,” said Stultz. “They’ve played club since at least fifth grade.”
With three players in the front row standing 6-1 or taller, Stultz says he expects the team to run a powerful offensive attack.
Six-foot-2 senior Carly Hargrave is a three-year starter, 6-2 senior Piper Larrance is a three-year letterman, and 6-3 junior Rebecca TenHaken moves up from last year’s successful jayvee team.
Hargrave was a first-team all-league selection at middle blocker in 2008.
Urdahl, a 5-9 right-side hitter, is a third-year varsity letter winner.
Junior Brittney Johnsen, a 5-8 outside hitter, also returns with varsity experience.
Junior Maddie Gillis (5-6 defensive specialist) and sophomores Shantel Gritsch (5-6 libero) and Kelsie Christensen (5-10 right-side hitter) move up to varsity from last year’s successful jayvee team.
Sophomore Anna Chizum (5-10 outside hitter) was a force on the 2008 undefeated freshmen team.
The freshmen on this year’s varsity are Stultz’ daughter Hannah (5-6 setter), Jayde Folsom (5-5 setter), Shelby Vasconcellos-Mattocks (5-10 outside hitter) and Sydney Wilson (5-5 defensive specialist).
“West Linn’s the team to beat until someone beats them,” said Stultz. “But they lost eight seniors, so this may be the year that someone else breaks through. I think our club has just as good a chance as anyone.”
West Linn has won 13 consecutive Three Rivers League titles and the Lions have a 131-match win string going in league.
Stultz said he sees the usual suspects chasing the Lions: Oregon City, Lakeridge, Lake Oswego and his Cavaliers.
“We have the skill to beat West Linn,” said Carly Hargrave. “It’s all mental. We can beat West Linn if we stop worrying about who we’re playing, play our game, and just do our best.”
Clackamas opens play this Thursday, when the Cavaliers vie in a jamboree at Westview; they travel to Southridge for a tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Cavaliers host Milwaukie in their league opener on Tuesday, Sept. 15.