An outside hitter and setter, Swett is a successful anywhere on the floor
In a program with a long, rich history in volleyball, Emma Swett has made even more history.
Swett became the first Woodland Beaver to be named the Gatorade State Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday.
“The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Swett as Washington’s best high school volleyball player,” according to a press release from Gatorade.
A 6-foot-1 outside hitter and setter, the senior had 159 kills and 118 digs in this past abbreviated season, leading Woodland to the Class 2A District 4 championship match. There was no state tournament during this pandemic schedule. The Beavers would have qualified for state.
She was voted by the coaches as the 2A Greater St. Helens League’s player of the year.
“Emma is a terminating hitter with an excellent volleyball IQ who can literally do it all,” said Danielle Hutton, Woodland’s coach. “Her athletic abilities give her the option to play any position across the net and be successful.”
Swett also recorded 77 assists, 22 service aces, and 16 blocks in the 13-match season.
Swett, who is on the Woodland student council, has a 3.86 grade-point average. She has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at the University of Portland.
Woodland has 24 state tournament appearances with 12 trophies, including two state championships. Swett is the first player from the program to be named the Gatorade Player of the Year, which encompasses all classifications.
In fact, Swett is the first from any of the Greater St. Helens Leagues to be the Player of the Year. Kennedy Croft of Tumwater, back in the 2016-17 school year, is the only other player from District 4 to earn this recognition. Gatorade has selected a volleyball player each year since the 1995-96 school year.
