SBLive Oregon’s top athletes of 2022-23: Meet the volleyball stars

Looking back at some of the best high school athletes of the 2022-23 school year

By René Ferrán | Photo by Blake Benard 

The high school sports season has wrapped up in Oregon, so SBLive Oregon is looking back at some of the best high school athletes of 2022-23.

Over the next week, we'll be highlighting some of the top players in all classifications in volleyball, soccer, football, basketball, softball and baseball.

Here is the SBLive Oregon all-state volleyball team. 

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First team

OH Kayleigh Carpenter, South Salem, senior

The Boise State signee and Central Valley Conference player of the year averaged 14 kills and 12 digs per match in leading the Saxons to the second round of the OSAA 6A playoffs and earning first-team all-state recognition. 

OH Kalista Lukovich, Nelson, senior

Lukovich helped the Hawks reach unprecedented heights for a second-year program, ending Central Catholic’s 17-year reign atop the Mt. Hood Conference and finishing third at the OSAA 6A state tournament. The Eastern Washington signee had 493 kills in earning MHC co-player of the year and first-team all-state honors.

OH Isabel Patterson, Jesuit, senior

The University of Oregon signee and 6A player of the year led the Crusaders to the 6A state final, finishing with 295 kills (.294 hitting percentage), 291 digs and 39 aces with a .973 serving percentage.

OH Gracie Vohs, Sisters, junior 

Vohs committed to Saint Mary’s College of California after a junior season for which she won 3A player of the year honors in leading the Outlaws to a third-place finish at the state tournament, finishing with 480 kills, 78 aces and 42 blocks. 

OH Makenna Wiepert, Wilsonville, senior

Wiepert will set in college for the University of Texas San Antonio, but she was a standout hitter for the Wildcats last fall in leading them to a third-place finish at the 5A state tournament. The 5A co-player of the year finished with 500 kills, fourth in the state for all classifications. 

RS Bridget Gould, Marshfield, junior

Gould was the final piece to the puzzle that led to the Pirates winning the first state championship in program history, transferring from North Bend over the summer and earning 4A co-player of the year honors. The University of Oregon commit finished with 325 kills.

MB Bella Gamache, Monroe, senior

Gamache committed to two-time national champion USC to play on the beach next spring — she was named to VolleyballMag.com’s Beach Fab 50 in December — and the 2A player of the year led the Dragons to the state final in November. She finished the season with 612 kills and 380 digs. 

MB Olivia Maulding, La Salle Prep, senior

The University of Notre Dame commit racked up 416 kills in earning first-team 5A all-state honors and leading the Falcons to a third consecutive appearance in the state quarterfinals.

MB Tessa Zimmermann, West Albany, senior 

Zimmermann will play indoor and beach volleyball for Southern Oregon next season, and she wrapped up her high school career by hitting .304 with 202 kills, 50 blocks, 113 digs and 31 aces (.954 serving) to lead the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish at the 5A state tournament. 

S Beaux Bruegman, Sheldon, senior 

Bruegman is a two-sport standout who will play basketball at Northwest Nazarene. She led the Irish to the first 6A volleyball state title in program history with a four-set victory over Jesuit in the final. 

S Alexis Haury, Silverton, junior

The two-time Gatorade player of the year and University of Washington commit led the Foxes to their first 5A state tournament appearance since 2015, finishing the season with 340 assists, 303 digs, 175 kills (.350 hitting) and 56 aces.

S Mia Starr, Central Catholic, senior

Starr signed with University of California Davis after a senior season in which she received second-team 6A all-state honors and led the Rams to a second-round state playoff appearance. 

L Elle Bruegman, Sheldon, senior

Beaux’s twin sister will continue her volleyball career at Eastern Washington after netting first-team 6A all-state honors for the first-time state champion Irish, finishing with 386 digs.

L Danielle Street, Crescent Valley, junior 

Street is one of several players who led the Raiders’ turnaround from a two-win season during the abbreviated 2021 spring campaign to the program’s first 5A state title last fall. The first-team all-state selection finished with 542 digs (5.9 per set) and 57 aces. 

Player of the year

Bridget Gould, Marshfield, junior

Coach of the year

Emily Russau, Damascus Christian 

All season, Russau balanced caring for her newborn with leading a veteran team seeking its first state championship. Not only did the Eagles accomplish that goal, rallying from two sets down in the 1A final against defending champion North Douglas, but they completed an undefeated season — the first since Santiam Christian ran the table to win the 3A title in 2019 and 34th all-time. 

Second team

OH Alize Bakker, Westview, senior

OH Katie Clevenger, South Medford, senior

OH Frances Eisenhardt, Valley Catholic, senior

OH Bella Jacobson, Crescent Valley, sophomore

OH Chloe LeLuge, Bend, junior

RS Nyah Johnson, McDaniel, senior

MB Taelyn Bentley, Crescent Valley, sophomore

MB Aly Herber, Salem Academy, senior

MB Kait Wood, Sheldon, senior

S Meah Carley, Cascade, senior

S Sierra Hale, Damascus Christian, senior

S Kamden Mitchell, Crescent Valley, sophomore

L Addie Azavedo, Jesuit, sophomore

L Kennedy Cheung, Westview, senior

Third team

OH Kendra Bittle, Crater, senior

OH Tatum Montiel, Marshfield, sophomore

OH Amyah Semau, West Linn, senior

OH Jillian Stein, Bend, senior

OH Paige Thies, Oregon City, sophomore

RS Avery Pickard, Jesuit, senior

MB Sofia Cooper, Central Catholic, senior

MB Halle Garrity, Westview, senior

MB McKenzie Jonas, Crook County, senior

S Madison Corpe, McNary, senior

S Hayden Pinard, Roseburg, senior

S Kate Stidham, Crater, senior

L Samantha Keightly, Oregon City, senior

L Macy Temple, Burns, senior