Here comes the rain: Mount Si volleyball is undefeated | Photo Gallery

When Anna McCreadie goes up, volleyballs come down, hard, and often don’t come back up.

The Santa Clara-signed senior has been raining hits for the Mount Si volleyball team, and the scores show that the outside hitter has come into her own this fall.

Led by McCreadie, Mount Si volleyball is currently undefeated, beating all comers. The latest was Issaquah on Thursday, Sept. 25, Mount Si won in four sets, 25-23, 25-17, 16-25, 25-14.

McCreadie had 16 kills and 13 digs, while senior middle blocker Liz Larson had three kills, five aces and 17 digs. Senior defensive specialist Jenn Rogers posted 14 digs. Sophomore Katie Larson had six aces, sophomore Courteney Carr had 21 assists—the setter has been getting 20 to 30 assists a night over the past few weeks—while Larson had two and Rogers had one.

When Carr, or one of the other setters, put up the ball, “I just do my job as a hitter,” says McCreadie. She wouldn’t trade this job for anything else.

“I can only control what’s on my side of the net,” says McCreadie. “I don’t know when I’m gonna get dug. I do the best I can, and see what happens.”

If she doesn’t actually see what happens when she rains a kill, she can generally hear the crowd’s reaction.

Numbers tell the tale over the start of the season, and every Mount Si varsity player is contributing.

Katie Larson is averaging several aces nightly. Cameron Kendall, Haley Holmberg, Scout Turner, and Sara Brevick are all putting up kills, aces, digs and assists. Anna’s sister Katie McCreadie is also bringing in kills, digs and blocks. Newcomer Tati Utley came in during the Issaquah match and scored three kills.

Sophomore Sophie Click has been grabbing a few kills every night.

“Sophie is killing it out here,” said McCreadie.

Senior Liz Larson, a mid

“It’s nice to have her in the drop,” McCreadie said. “She’s a great ball player.”

Rogers, meanwhile, has held it down in the back.

“Jenn has been working really hard. Her passing and her leadership in the back row has really been a great asset for us,” McCreadie said.

Teammates help Rogers be successful as libero. They’re calling out, signaling her, ensuring she’s aware and ready, all game long.

“Talking is one of the biggest parts of volleyball,” the senior said.

“What’s different about this year is, we all get along so well,” said Rogers. “The relationship off the court really transfers to good communication on the court.” The team is encouraging each other and being a family, she said.

Sometimes, when the team gets tired, or when they’re up by a lot, or losing by a lot, that communication can break down.

“That’s the reason we get down in holes,” Rogers said. “But we really try to pick it up.”

Mount Si not only got a lot of veteran returners this season, but also enjoys a big group of younger players with plenty of experience.

“The younger generation is getting really good, now that club volleyball is becoming more popular,” said Liz Larson.

““We’ve come back more mechanically sound this season than we have any other season. Thats really helped us come out to play strong.”

“It’s a close-knit group of girls,” Larson said. There’s been fewer issues with cliques, she said, and players are close friends. “We all work together. That’s definitely helping a ton.”

“I think these girls really work well together,” said sophomore Sophie Click. “I know the sophomores grew up playing together. There’s a lot of camaraderie, and we all understand each other. It just works.”

Courteney Carr, a sophomore setter with her mind on state, sees her role as a little bit like football.

“I’m like the quarterback,” explained Carr. “I run all the plays and set up the hitters.”

Mount Si currently has two sets of sisters getting varsity play: Senior Liza and sophomore Katie Larson, and Anna and her sister Katie McCreadie, a sophomore.

Mount Si beat Skyline last Tuesday, Sept. 23, in four sets. The Wildcats have also beaten Everett, Shorewood and Kentwood. The team next hosts Bothell, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.