The Tualatin volleyball team opened the year with three straight wins, including winning the Southridge Tournament.
Things went a little south after that, with the Timberwolves finishing the season 9-14 overall and earning a spot in a qualification game to try and get into the playoffs.
A strong start and then tailing off a bit was a common occurrence this year for Tualatin, according to Head Coach Bridget Hinrichs.
“They just really came together and worked hard for each other, and it was a lot of fun to see,” she said. “This team is very skilled. Every single match was an all-out battle. We just weren’t able to finish as strong as we started a lot of the time.”
Hinrichs and the Timberwolves also knew heading into the year they wouldn’t really have any easy matches. Of the seven teams in the Three Rivers League, six earned spots in either playoff qualification matches or made the playoffs outright.
“It builds character to go against that level of competition every match,” she said.
Even with the tough competition, the Timberwolves had their best showing in the last half-decade. The 9 wins are Tualatin’s most in a season since winning 10 matches in 2021.
Hinrichs said the future of the program is bright, as well, even though seven of Tualatin’s 12 players this year were seniors.
“Our JV team coming up have won just about every match,” she said. “I’m really excited for next year. The returning five have had to fight and work hard and learn it takes grit to pull off a win. They’ll be coming back ready for more.”
She added that she will miss the seven seniors graduating this year, and added they all contributed a lot of the program, especially Georgia Biedritzky and Jaelyn Hinrichs.
“They’re team captains this year, and that’s the third row in a row their teammates voted them as captains,” Hinrichs said. “Their teammates trust them. They’re all-around good leaders.”
Bridget Hinrichs said Jaelyn Hinrichs, her daughter, leads or is in the top three for nearly every statistic on the team. Biedritzky, the team’s setter, recorded her 1,000th assist this year, as well.
“They’ll both be missed next year,” Hinrichs said.
Isabella Kampfe, another senior, was Tualatin’s lead server this year.
“She also has this big powerful swing that has been something we’ve needed for quite a while on the outside,” Hinrichs said.
Devin Brown missed last year, but was back this year for her senior season.
“She’s been a force at the net for us both offensively and defensively,” Hinrichs added.
Hinrichs said the team also received some strong play from a few athletes for whom volleyball isn’t their main sport, but something they do for fun and to keep in shape for other seasons.
Junior Nahla McCrae is a star on the Tualatin’s track and field team.
“Nahla has wrapped up that right side,” Hinrichs said. “She plays volleyball for fun, and does an outstanding job for us. She’s a big block and an offensive threat on that right side.”
Another standout was senior Evelyn Freepons, who has been playing volleyball for three years. Hinrichs said she thinks Freepons is talented enough to play in college, if she wants.
“I’d love to see her give it a go,” Hinrichs said. “She’s an outstanding basketball player. She’ll probably start for our basketball team in the winter, but she’s talented enough to be a dual-sport athlete if she’s interested.”
Next up for the Timberwolves is a playoff play-in game against Sherwood. It’s the first time Tualatin has earned a spot in the playoff play-in round since 2019. The game was played after our press deadline, but if Tualatin wins, they’ll move on to the playoffs proper.
