2021 GODDESS & WARRIOR AWARDS
Lia Wagner
Athena 14 Silver
Goddess
Lia was chosen as 14 Silver’s goddess by her teammates and coaches 💛 Lia truly serves as a leader with her consistent calm, confident and positive composure. Lia constantly gives her all and encourages her teammates to improve during SAQs, practice and tournaments. She hones in on a goal and works hard at successfully accomplishing it. She always knows where to be whether it’s in the front or back row. Her drive and full efforts of trying to keep the ball alive inspires her teammates to be better. She naturally makes smart, strategic choices on the court and betters the ball every time. And the little hand shakey thing she does after making a mistake never ceases to cheer the rest of us up too! Great job Lia!
Adonia Mattson
Athena 14 White
Goddess
Adonia is always a positive force to have on the court and she always has a smile on her face. She also served us a ton at our last tourney! Great work Adonia!
Reese Thomas
Athena 15 Silver
Goddess
Reese brings so much positive and infectious energy to the team at every practice and every match. Her energy is so contagious and has continuously helped the team through critical moments of play. Reese always puts her team first and self second. She always looks for ways to serve her team whether she is on the court or on the sideline. At the Bayview Classic Tournament it was no different. When she was on the sideline, she was always scoping out the other side of the court looking for open areas and relaying the information to her team for them to capitalize on.
Campbell O’Connell
Athena 15 Silver
Goddess
Campbell has become a critical component of our 15 Silver team. She started off the season as a libero, but then fearlessly stepped right into the role of a middle and has OWNED it. She plays with such a unique confidence and evenness and is always fearlessly implementing new skills and strategies. Campbell has developed into such a strong all around player with her stellar defense and dynamite serving. Full effort, full energy is part of Campbell’s daily repertoire and doing what her coaches and teammates ask of her is second nature. Congrats Campbell!!
Grady May Heinle
Athena 13 Gold
Goddess
Grady goes all out every play, every day. She leads by example through her work ethic and never quit attitude. She is a great teammate that works to bring the whole team together on and off the court.
Jackie Carle
Athena 14 Gold
Goddess
Jackie exemplifies our Athena pillars day in and day out: Full energy full effort, Take responsibility for your role, and Be a good teammate. Her work ethic, leadership, and flexibility to learn new roles successfully motivates our team in both up and down times. She's a consistent voice on/off the court with a competitive hunger that drives our team. Voted by her peers as one of our team captains, her spirit and all she consistently brings to this team is truly appreciated!
Cecily O'Sullivan
Athena 12 Gold
Goddess
Cecily is a team leader on the court and off. She consistently works hard in practices, is always coachable, and is quick to volunteer to carry gear/equipment when needed. She is a great teammate and is always positive and encouraging.
Ashley Larsen
Athena 16 White
Goddess
Ashley exemplifies what being an Athena Goddess means. She works hard to improve every day, does everything she is asked with amazing enthusiasm (including playing multiple positions throughout tournaments), brings amazing energy to our team whether she is on the court or off, and is always being a positive force with all of her teammates. She is a key reason why the 16 White team went undefeated in Power League this season.
Michael Shin
Ajax 16
Warrior
Michael is always thinking about motivating and helpful things to say to his team in hard times and when individual people get down to help lift them back up. That’s way more than just an on the court teammate💜 He also brings extra water to practice... just in case someone might forget theirs. Great job, great season Michael!
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Rachel Peterson
Athena 15 Gold
Goddess
Rachel Peterson is a player that consistently embodies the ATHENAVB pillars. Rachel genuinely has the interest of the team ahead of her individual interest. She is continually looking for ways to help others, even outside our team by carrying bags and holding doors for strangers. She has stayed behind with an injured player and often accompanies a teammate that is sent on an errand so they are not alone. No matter if Rachel is in the line up or not, she builds her teammates up so her team can be as successful as possible. Rachel gives everything she has to her team on and off the court.
Emily DeMarti
Athena 12 Silver
Goddess
Emily is always being willing to play any position that is needed, a source of encouragement and positivity for the entire team, and always giving 100%!
Kiana Mafinejad
Athena 12 Black
Goddess
During a time when it can be hard to read a player because of masks, I never have to question with Kiana. Her eyes are always engaged and you can just see the joy in her eyes no matter if she is cheering her teammates on from the bench or out on the court. It’s pretty awesome to see such a young player have the same consistent attitude that doesn’t seem to be impacted by circumstances. I love that Kiana is willing to make a different kind of mistake when I ask her to try something that might push her out of her comfort zone. She is one of the most coachable players I have ever had the privilege of coaching. We have been doing weekly “homework” challenges on our team and of course there is a reward for whoever does the most reps of whatever the challenge of the week is. We had a hitting approach challenge and one of our players did 1000 approaches! For a platform wall work challenge we had a player put in 10 hours outside of practice! Incredible!!! Kiana did not win either of those challenges, but seeing the amount of effort other teammates were putting in outside of practice she decided to do the same even after the challenge was over. Last week she did 1047 approaches at home. No reward. She just did it because it would make her better, and a teammate that makes herself better makes her team better. That’s Athena volleyball right there.
Savanna Stewart
Athena 16 Onyx
Goddess
Savanna was chosen as Onyx's goddess by her teammates with Coach's solid approval. Per her team, Savanna is the type of teammate who "is always encouraging and leaves everything on the court." As our libero, Savanna plays a vital support role both on and off the court and her teammates recognize all the ways she supports them; covering their hits, getting quality second touches on poor passes, seeing the court and helping hitters by calling hit spots, controlling freeballs and dominating serve receive. Players also mention how her voice is always heard during the game and she always has a positive comment or cheer. As a coach, Savanna is a dream to coach. She works hard, listens to the goals of a drill and works hard to achieve that goal or better her skills or that of her teammates. She balances having fun with an intensity that drives our team to improve. She puts in time outside of our practices to better herself and always looks for more ways to put the team and her teammates first.
Emma Burlingame
Athena 17 Gold
Goddess
Emma has been an incredible servant-leader for 17g who understands how to come in first. She is first to set up or break down the nets, she is first to encourage her teammates, she is first to believe in them, she is first to volunteer for new drills, she is first to ask questions and learn, and she is first to be vulnerable and ask for more reps in something she is improving. It is no wonder that she was also first in her teammate’s minds to be a captain.
Rowan Daugherty
Athena 15 Black
Goddess
When we think about selecting a goddess, we look for a player that stands out in a way that models one of our Athena pillars. Rowan models all 3 pillars. She is an incredible teammate – kind, caring, genuine and always uplifting her teammates. She gives full effort and energy every time she steps on the court. She actively engages in her journey, always asking questions and seeking ways to get better. She also has embraced her role with confidence. Due to a shortage of players, we asked her to step in and set a 5-1 in Reno – she played every point of very match with 100% effort. Even got a few monster blocks. She is a kid that makes everyone around her better including her coaches.
Hannah Wilborn
Athena 16 Black
Goddess
Hannah had a stellar tournament in reno (everyone did) but she’s always talking on the court, talking to her teammates, cheering loud, upbeat. From coaching her at 13s to now 16s her serving and back court defense has come so far as she racked up a lot of aces over the tournament weekend.
Kate Cooper
Athena 16 Silver
Goddess
Kate has a passion for volleyball that shows on and off the court. She's a talented player and keeps her spirits high and her head in the game, even in tough matches. Her drive and encouragement helped lead the team to a 3-0 Power League! She's always one of the first to volunteer to help out the coaches, and motivates the team to work hard. We're lucky to have Kate on the team!
Lauren Patterson
Athena 16 Gold
Goddess
Lauren really is a game changer for our team with her ball control and energy. She’s always working hard and is very supportive of her teammates!. She is also playing softball right now so she’s doing double duty and hasn’t missed a single one of our practices!
Abby Urbanski
Athena 13 Silver
Goddess
Abby Urbanski is an Authentic, Teamspirited, Happy, Encouraging and a New player to Athena with a great Attitude. This weekend it only proved what I thought Abby was and could be to our team. She is so Gracious to her teammates. Abby is always Open to changes. Dedicated and Determined since day one. She is so Enthusiastic during play and even more so on the sideline. Abby is a Selfless and Supportive team player. Leads by example!!!
Siobhan Quinn
Athena 14 White
Goddess
Siobhan has really stepped into the leadership role and has made a huge impact on the court in the times that we have needed it the most! The team can always count on her to come ready to play and give it her all. She also rocked it with her serves in PLQ, serving a total of almost 15 points in one match. Way to go, Siobhan!!
Daylen Onishenko
Ajax 16U
Warrior
Daylen's been working hard and it paid off on Saturday. He had it all going on - Serving BB’s, Passing Nails, Back Up Setting, and Hitting for lots of points. Overall a great performance!
Liv Clement
Athena 12 White
Goddess
Liv leads by example. She shows up to every practice ready to learn and try new things and stretch herself. She works hard and always has a positive attitude. Her work ethic in practice has lead to outstanding performances in the tournaments. This weekend Liv had her first kill at the net, first serve over the net, and lead our team in serve receive. Her coaches are so proud of her effort, grit, and growth. The future is bright for this Goddess.
Jessica Ma
Athena 15 White
Goddess
She was a true leader throughout our first competition, consistent with her effort and execution throughout the day, positive and uplifting to ALL of her teammates, and exemplified what Athena stands for!
Madeline "Macy" Morse
Athena 13 Black
Goddess
Macy is an exceptional teammate, regardless of where she is; in practice, on the court in a match, on the bench or part of the work team- She is always working hard and cheering on her team. She has been very responsible and has earned the role of Captain because of her leadership skills and dedication to the team. Macy is a true competitor, even if its just the coin flip, she never wants to let her teammates down and she shows this on the court with her hustle and never quit attitude! Our favorite thing about Macy is that we can count on her to lead the team with full effort and energy at all times, she not only sets the standard for our team but other teams in the gym as well! She has been very coachable, listens to feedback and makes adjustments when needed and she always knows how to have fun!
Will Osborn
Ajax 18
Warrior
Will Osborn was chosen for Warrior because of his continued leadership, which truly excelled throughout our recent Redmond tournament.
Sabah Mohammady
Athena 18 Gold
Goddess
Sabah has continually been tested over and over again in volleyball and just as frequently steps up to the plate. She gives her all in every practice, makes sure everybody feels like they are valued, and accepted her role on 18g with tears of joy in her eyes.
Lily Sawyer
Athena 18 Black
Goddess
Lily continually manifests each of Athena's character pillars...to the point of getting in a car accident (don't worry she's ok) and worries about letting her teammates down because she can't go all out in practice; but she is STILL coming even just to watch. In a time where I constantly hear "I'm too tired." It is a great relief knowing there are some really committed players in this program.
Coen Straub
Ajax 14U
Warrior
This is Coen's first year plaing volleyball and he comes to all practices wanting to learn more and asking questions. He interacts well with teammates and gives a lot of energy both on and off the court.
Holly Tinker
Athena 14 Black
Goddess
Holly is a silent ninja! She was our best server of the day and stepped into the left back DS role wonderfully. She embodied full energy, full effort and was a consistent serve receive passer and defender. Even scored us a few backrow attack points!
Hailey Gustafson
Athena 13 White
Goddess
Hailey had an incredible first tournament. She embodies what a true teammate is. She hustles without being asked. She cheers and celebrates with her teammates. In just one tournament she showed that she’s a leader. Her great serves, all out defense, and aggressive front row play helped her team win their 3 set thriller last match of the day.