After a bitter loss in the state quarterfinals last year, the Wilsonville Volleyball team has their heads down and ready to work. The wildcats looking great now and for the future, with only 4 players in the 2025 graduating class, the wildcats look to this year as an opportunity to win but even more, to mold the young and talented team into a possible repeat state championship team. 

The team captain Ellis Underhill expresses her excitement for the year and overwhelming joy to be able to teach these young teammates the way of the court by saying,

“I know we’re young and I know there’s questions about us. But with this coaching staff and coachable players, I don’t see an end to this season until late November.”

Touching on teamwork, this squad has built this season starting with rough summer workouts and a scary looking tryout, but nothing has been on their minds more than a championship. Something the program has yet to have their hands on.

With many close sets and one too many late-game losses, seasoned veterans like Lana Gillis, Ellis Underhill, Emma Fauth on this team are hungry and ready to fight, and one day, hoist that championship trophy.

The Wildcats have some serious pride that has already been shown on the court, starting the season 8-1 in total, and 7-0 in league. The biggest game they’ve had all year was centennial, taking the game to 4 sets the wildcats persevered from being down 14 points going into the late sets of the fourth set but somehow crawled back to a 28-26 win in the 4th set. 

The expectations of this team are always high, and Emily Holmes shares her thoughts on it by saying,

“I think that high expectations are always a good thing. I believe that managing expectations is the biggest part of my success and the whole team overall.”

In closure, this team is more ready than ever to make a championship push in 2024 and is ready to build their young stars for an exciting future ahead.