BG volleyball reaches new heights

When the Battle Ground Tigers open play at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament this weekend at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, coach Cheyanne Knight wants her players to be thinking of just one thing.

“I want our kids to go in and be confident and know they deserve to be there and that they can play at that top level,’’ said Knight, who in her fourth year coaching the Tigers’ has guided Battle Ground to the state tournament for the first time since 1982.

Battle Ground shared the 4A Greater St. Helens League championship this year with perennial power Camas. The Tigers then beat their fellow co-champs in game to determine the seeding for the district tournament, but then lost to the Papermakers in the district championship game on Saturday.

Knight credits her team’s success to several things, starting with a solid core group of seniors in Hallie Wyles, McKenzie Wolf, and Jossilyn Blackman.

“Those three started as freshmen with me and have really bought into my philosophy and have helped me to change the mentality of Battle Ground volleyball,’’ Knight said. “We wanted to show everybody that we don’t have to be at the bottom all the time. If we work hard we can compete with people.’’

And Wyles, Wolf and Blackman have helped the Tigers do more than just compete. They stood toe-to-toe with Camas all season and the Papermakers are a program that is headed to the state tournament for the 12th straight year.

“They’re leadership has been amazing on and off the court,’’ Knight said of her senior trio. “The kids really follow them and look to them for leadership.’’

In addition to the three seniors, Battle Ground also boasts one of the top high school volleyball players in the nation in junior Brooke VanSickle, the 4A Greater St. Helens League Player of the Year.

“She’s pretty incredible,’’ Knight said of VanSickle. “The kids really rally around her.’’

This past summer, VanSickle made the United States Junior National team, which featured 12 of the top high school players in the nation, and played against top international competition in Costa Rica. She has already committed to the University of Oregon.

“Brooke is such a dynamic player,’’ Knight said. “She is so effortless. Volleyball comes so naturally for her. She does everything for us; she never comes off the floor. She hits out of the front row and she sets out of the back row. She is one of the most well-rounded players I have ever coached.’’

Knight said that VanSickle brings the “wow’’ factor to the game.

“She’s so strong and so powerful and that makes her very intimidating,’’ Knight said. “She is also very humble and very gracious. The rest of the team feeds off of her so she has increased the confidence level in our entire team. And, we have her for another year, which is pretty cool.’’

Another key performer for the Tigers is junior Ashley Watkins, a transfer from Vancouver’s Seton Catholic.

“She’s a nice piece of the puzzle,’’ Knight said of Watkins. “She adds a lot of offense to our team. She’s an outside hitter and setter on the back row. She’s definitely a big piece.’’

Knight describes sophomore Hana Wyles as Battle Ground’s “go-to passer.’’

“Her confidence never seems to waiver,’’ Knight said.

Battle Ground will open the state tournament with a matchup with Central Valley of Spokane. Knight had a chance to watch Central Valley play in a tournament earlier this season. The Tigers haven’t been to the state tourney in 32 years and Central Valley will be making its first trip to state in 42 years, according to Knight.

“They’re solid but definitely beatable,’’ Knight said of her team’s opponent. “We’re kind of the underdogs. Nobody knows us, so that’s a cool thing.’’

Knight says her goal for the Tigers is to bring home a top-8 finish.

“I want to be the top 8 for sure,’’ she said. “I want to bring home a trophy and I think that’s doable.’’