Local college athletes: Freshmen volleyball players make D-1 impact

Three local volleyball players have quickly found a role at Division I volleyball programs.

Ashley Watkins, a freshman at setter at Montana, has become a regular player for the Grizzlies.

The Battle Ground grad has started 13 of the team’s 20 matches this year, has a team-high 17 service aces and is second on the team with 287 assists.

Watkins had a combined 33 assists, 15 digs and 13 kills in weekend matches against Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Montana is 4-16 overall and 1-9 in the Big Sky Conference.

Brooke Van Sickle, a freshman libero at Oregon, had a combined 13 digs during wins over Utah and Colorado last weekend.

The Battle Ground graduate has played in every match this season for the Ducks, which are 14-5 overall and 7-3 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Evi Wilson, a freshman at Montana State, had three kills, two blocks and two digs in a 3-0 win over Southern Utah on Saturday.

Wilson, who led Columbia River to second place in the state last year, has played in 10 of the Bobcats’ 19 matches this season. Montana State is 5-14.

Shannon Porter, a senior at Saint Martin’s and Hockinson High grad, finished second overall at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday in Bellingham.

Her time was 21 minutes, 23.70 seconds. She earned all-GNAC status and was also named GNAC Newcomer of the Year as this is her first season competing for the Saints.

Georgia Porter, a senior at Western State in Colorado and Hockinson grad, was runner-up at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship for the second year in row. Her time at Spearfish, S.D., on Saturday was 22:28.36.

COLLEGE ATHLETE NEWS items can be submitted by sending email to sports@columbian.com.

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