Volleyball: Claire Louie - Sequoia

Louie's can-do attitude lifted the Sequoia volleyball team to its best season since the late 1970s. The Cherokees finished 27-9 overall and a perfect 16-0 in the PAL Ocean Division. The sophomore setter set the tone with her perfect sets and tough defense. Not only did the 5-foot-6 15-year-old pump out assists at a prodigious rate, she could whack down kills as well. Louie's defense was superb - time and again she would produce diving digs that looked like sure-fire winners, and she delivered some big blocks at the net, too.

During the offseason, Louie plays for Vision, a club team based out of Los Gatos. The tough club competition prepares her for the prep season. In addition to her physical skills, Louie always provided an emotional lift with her cheers after a winning point. The setter is often said to be a volleyball team's quarterback, someone who can provide leadership and elevate a team's play at the most crucial times. No one did that better than Louie, who smiled the entire way.

"She's just a tremendous volleyball talent," Sequoia coach Jane Slater said. "She has a great feel for the game. She was our best pure volleyball player because she could do everything well. We're lucky to have her for two more years."