Philomath High senior Nora Stanley capped her career by earning first-team all-Oregon West Conference honors in volleyball for the fourth straight season.
Stanley, an outside hitter, made the first team as a freshman and kept her place there every year after. As a junior, she was also named to the first team at the Class 4A state tournament. She was one of six players named to this season’s all-league first team. Her sister, sophomore middle blocker Alyssa Stanley, received honorable mention.
Nora Stanley finished her senior season with 281 kills, 262 digs, 45 aces and 27 solo blocks. Philomath coach Whitney Thomas said Stanley was the standout in the program this season, for reasons that were clear to anyone who watched her play.
“Her play just speaks for itself offensively, defensively, all the way around,” Thomas said.
Thomas said opponents built their game plans around Stanley. The rest of the Warriors’ lineup was mostly new to varsity, so there was little film to study on anyone else.
“Teams prepared to play us by watching film on Nora,” Thomas said. “And that’s nothing negative about the other players on the team. We were just so brand new to varsity — everybody besides Alyssa — that nobody really knew anything about anybody else except Nora.”
Thomas said Stanley’s biggest impact came as a leader, on and off the court.
“Nora really takes it upon herself to be the best leader she can possibly be,” Thomas said.
Thomas described Stanley talking with junior varsity players before and after practice, taking younger players under her wing and checking on teammates who were having a bad day, “even when coaches don’t notice.”
“She definitely made it her goal this year to make sure that everyone felt included in the program,” Thomas said. “That was her big goal as a senior, and she absolutely accomplished that.”
Honorable mention pick Alyssa Stanley had 78 solo blocks, 91 kills, 210 digs and 27 aces.
Philomath finished sixth in the six-team league with a 1-9 record and went 4-17 overall. Stayton won the Oregon West title at 9-1.
Central senior outside hitter Brynn Taufa’asau was named the league’s Player of the Year. Cascade senior Macie Thies was Libero of the Year, and Central’s Cammy Baker was Coach of the Year.
All-Oregon West Conference
Player of the Year — Brynn Taufa’asau, Sr., Central
Libero of the Year — Macie Thies, Sr., Cascade
Coach of the Year — Cammy Baker, Central
FIRST TEAM
Outside Hitters — Nora Stanley, Sr., Philomath; Kourtney Samek, Sr., Stayton
Middle Blockers — Kathryn Samek, Sr., Stayton; Kade Lane, So., Cascade
Setters — Briahna Kirchner, Sr., Newport; Kydalin Baker, So., Central
SECOND TEAM
Outside Hitters — Bella Names, Sr., Central; Kendall Moore, So., Stayton
Middle Blocker — Aida Lupo, Jr., Taft
Setter — Zoe Northrup, So., Cascade
Liberos — Erin Stutrud, Sr., Stayton; Layla Jones, Sr., Taft
HONORABLE MENTION
Outside Hitters — London Oliver, So., Cascade; Mysti Ferguson, Sr., Newport; Ari Hunter, Jr., Taft; Brei Hunter, So., Taft; Anna Cole, Sr., Central
Opposite Hitters — Jordyn Patterson, Sr., Cascade; Alyssa Schotthoefer, Jr., Stayton
Middle Blockers — Alyssa Stanley, So., Philomath; Zuri Andersen, Sr., Stayton; Olivia-Kate Davis, Sr., Taft
Setters — Mila Morley, Jr., Stayton; Abi Wheildon, Jr., Stayton; Katelyn Hatton, Sr., Taft
Libero — Ashlyn Viner, Sr., Central
Defensive Specialists — Vanessa Ravera, Sr., Cascade; Brayley Ford, Sr., Cascade
