High school volleyball: Capital’s Devyn Oestreich is The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area Player of the Year

It’s a common story. Born into a family with ties to a sport, a young athlete grows to love the game.

In the case of Capital High School’s junior outside hitter Devyn Oestreich, who began playing volleyball at eight because her dad, Todd, was heavily involved with the local club volleyball scene, being on a team and being in a family have always been similar.

“I grew up watching club practices, hanging out with the girls,” said Oestreich, selected as The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year after helping lead the Cougars to a second-place finish in the 3A state tournament last month. “There’s been a family vibe with teams I’ve been part of. I’ve always loved it.”

Even when colleges began recruiting her, Oestreich valued that same vibe as much as anything. When she committed early, to Western Washington University, her reasons weren’t surprising.

The Vikings are a strong program. They risked a 26-2 record against Hawai’i-Hilo in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament Thursday in San Bernardino. But Oestreich also found the intangibles she thrives on.

“I visited WWU in October and honestly loved it,” she said. “Family was a huge part of it. The coaches are amazing, the players are supportive and loving.”

Oestreich’s success at Capital goes back to a freshman year when she sometimes doubted her place in the school’s volleyball family.

This is Oestreich’s third consecutive year on the All-Area team. She was named Most Valuable Player of the 3A South Sound Conference.

She already holds Capital’s career record for service aces with 146. This season, she recorded 55, to go with 270 kills and 220 digs. As star players often are, she was the target of opponent’s serves, returning 404 with only 16 errors.

But when she first joined a varsity that included six strong senior players and then super-soph Maia Nichols, the 2017 state 3A player of the year, Oestreich was apprehensive.

“I knew all the seniors from club, when I was eight and they were 11 or 12. It was kind of a reunion. And I’ve known the Nichols sisters (Maia and now-junior middle blocker Madison, another All-Area selection) forever,” she remembered. “But it was super nerve-wracking at times.”

When the team’s big moment came, Oestreich was in the middle of it, finishing off Mercer Island with the final kill of a 3-1 state championship game victory.

“That was incredible. Unbelievable,” she said. “Going into the season, we knew we’d be good but didn’t envision that.”

Capital coach Katie Turcotte, herself The Olympian’s Coach of the Year for the second time in three years this season, wasn’t surprised Oestreich could come up big as a first-year player.

“What sets Devyn apart is an ability to stay in the present, to focus on one point at a time,” said Turcotte. “She’s an even-keeled, steady player. That’s beneficial at crunch time. We know that when she gets the ball, she’s more than likely putting it away.”

That calm can transfer into leading teammates.

“She’s a team captain. She enables everyone to play well,” Turcotte said. “She’s everything you’d want of someone in a leadership role.”

The 5-foot-11 Oestreich doesn’t see herself as a vocal leader.

“I don’t yell at girls on the court or try to boss them around,” she said. “I do what I can to encourage them, to make sure no one gets too down on themselves.”

She also works to set an example.

“I’ve always looked up to people who work hard every minute of a game. I’ve wanted to learn everything about the game. I’m trying to be the best player I can be for my teammates.”

Coaches will always praise strong personalities and good attitudes, but in the end they’re looking for players who can score points and win games thanks to their physical abilities. Turcotte says Oestreich has those in abundance and combines them perfectly with her love and knowledge of volleyball.

“She’s long and athletic. She can jump high and hit the ball over the block,” Turcotte said. “But she can also read the block and hit around it or find an angle to hit it off the block. She plays all around the rotation. She’s a phenomenal defensive player.”

Tumwater co-head coach Jordan Stray said “Devyn commands the court. She has an excellent knowledge of the game.”

Oestreich’s knack for serving is another aspect where talent and skill combine with savvy to frustrate opponents.

“She has a great float jump serve,” Turcotte said. “The angle makes it very difficult for receivers.”

Oestreich and the Cougars don’t figure to drop from prominence next season. They will lose four seniors, including Maia Nichols, Capital’s all-time leader in kills (1169) and digs (1026) to Arizona State University’s beach volleyball program, and setter Maddie Matthews, Capital’s career record holder in assists (1393).

“We’ll miss them,” Turcotte said, “But we’ve got eight girls returning. We should be pretty solid.”

For Oestreich, who plans to major in pre-med or education in college, volleyball season is endless. She still has goals to reach before her senior year, as part of her club team. The Olympia Reign 17U squad run by her dad will play a travel schedule focused on reaching nationals in Texas next summer.

“I play all year round,” she said. “Club is huge part of my life, too.”

PAST ALL-AREA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

2008: Amanda Warner, Tumwater

2009: Kailah Lenz, Black Hills

2010: Lauren Herseth, Olympia

2011: Christie Colasurdo, Olympia

2012: Karlee Sampson, Tumwater

2013: Hunter Manke & Riley Podowicz, Timberline

2014: Rachel Erickson, Capital

2015: Kennedy Croft, Tumwater

2016: Julianna Salanoa, Timberline

2017: Kennedy Croft, Tumwater

2018: Maia Nichols, Capital