The Chronicle's 2025 All-Area Volleyball Team

Nov. 27—Whether it's for her club, for her beach team or for Rainier High School, Allyson Ooms lives and breathes volleyball. Her mother, Carrie Ooms, is the Mountaineers head coach and she's surrounded with knowledge from the sidelines to her teammates on the court.

And Allyson Ooms doesn't take it for granted.

"I take all I can," she said.

The junior outside hitter was everywhere for Rainier this fall, ending up as a main catalyst in its first Class 2B District 4 title this century that also earned her the C2BL MVP.

Ooms wasn't done.

She was named The Chronicle's All-Area Volleyball MVP on Tuesday with a stat line of 276 kills, 292 digs, 27 aces and 15 blocks.

"I just went out and had big goals," Ooms said. "Just working hard and playing all-around, getting the exposure and experience, has helped me be an all-around good player."

While Rainier ended up as a higher seed at the state tournament and went farther in districts, its roster was much younger with only three seniors. There was a leadership void from the last two senior classes and Ooms had no issues embracing being a leader.

Shell be the only senior on next year's roster surrounded by a boatload of sophomores and a junior in Ellie Pringle.

"I've been playing with this group since middle school," Ooms said. "I knew I had big shoes to fill."

The Mountaineers, despite being the top seed in Yakima, left without a trophy after losing in the quarterfinal round and dropping a win-and-trophy match against league rival Toutle Lake.

"After that disappointment, we're going to take that and push even harder next year to come home with something," Ooms said.

The offseason for Ooms will look slightly different. Instead of bouncing between indoor and beach, she is going year-round beach for her team based out in Tacoma. She feels beach can vastly improve her indoor game.

"It's helped me be a lot smarter about my defense and my vertical has gotten up quite a bit," she said.

The Chronicle's All-Area Volleyball Team:

Hitters

Tove Hugus, Tumwater

The T-Birds outside hitter earned the Evergreen Conference MVP award with 294 kills, 286 digs and 18 aces to help them leave the state tournament with a trophy.

Paige Henderson, Tumwater

One of the most lethal middles in the area, the senior had an eye-opening 59 total blocks and 34 of them solo. She also hit .302 and notched 197 kills.

Lily Worthen, Black Hills

An all-around player for the Wolves in their run through the district tournament, Worthen's stat line of 201 kills, 121 digs, 60 assists and 44 aces earned her a first team all-league spot.

Emalie Jacoby, Onalaska

The Loggers junior put together a season to remember with an area-best 512 kills in leading them to a C2BL regular season title and a state tournament berth.

Ellie Fallon, Toledo

Still only a sophomore, the Riverhawks top hitter amassed 509 kills, 120 aces and 105 digs in helping them get to Yakima for the first time since 2003.

Adyson Barrows, Mossyrock

Small in stature, but not on impact for the Vikings senior. Her totals of 356 digs, 164 kills and 73 aces was more than enough to get her a first team all-league honor.

Madi Engel, Pe Ell

The Columbia Valley League MVP in her final season for the Trojans, she posted 121 kills, 97 digs and dished out 12 dimes to lead them to a league title.

Setters

McKenna Smith, Centralia

The Tigers do-it-all senior pushed them to a top-three finish in the EvCo with 50 service aces plus averages of five kills, 16 assists and 12 digs per set.

Braelyn Babb, Onalaska

A dynamite distributor that helped the Loggers have balance at the net, the junior registered an area-best 703 assists plus she notched 49 aces.

Karli Phelps, Pe Ell

A standout in multiple sports for the Trojans, the junior transitioned into being a setter this fall and thrived with 337 assists plus adding 94 digs, 71 kills and 39 blocks.

Katelyn Eckroth, Rainier

The Mountaineers setter led them to a district title with 336 assists, 129 digs, 67 aces and added 47 kills to earn second team all-league honors.

Libero

Taylor Schwartz, Mossyrock

A premier defensive specialist in SW Washington, the Vikings senior dug nearly everything up and excelled their passing game to the tune of 536 digs while also recording 27 aces.

Utility

Katen Burkhardt, Tenino

Her position on the Beavers' roster was utility and it proved to be correct with 259 kills, 182 digs, 38 assists and aces plus 32 blocks to give the junior Evergreen League MVP honors.