Madras High School junior outside hitter Sienna Simmelink has been named the Central Oregon Athlete of the Week, earning recognition from The Bend Bulletin after a dominant stretch of play that has put the White Buffalos volleyball program firmly in the regional spotlight.
Simmelink was nominated by Madras head coach Taytum Stevens after the junior recorded a combined 47 kills and 33 digs across two matches last week -- numbers that drew attention from across the Tri-Valley Conference and beyond.
A Standout Performance
Her most impressive outing came in a 3-1 victory over Molalla on October 5, when Simmelink put up 25 kills and 16 digs in a single match. That kind of production at the Class 4A level is exceptional, and it helped power the White Buffalos to an important conference win.
For Coach Stevens and the Madras program, the Athlete of the Week recognition is a testament to the work Simmelink has put in throughout the season. Outside hitters who can both terminate at the net and contribute defensively in the back row are a rare find -- and Simmelink has shown she can do both at a high level.
White Buffalos Eye Playoff Push
With the playoff picture beginning to take shape for Class 4A volleyball in Oregon, the White Buffalos will be looking to build momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Madras competes in a tough Tri-Valley Conference that features programs from across Central Oregon and the mid-Willamette Valley.
For a community like Jefferson County -- where high school athletics are a central part of community identity -- individual honors like this carry extra meaning. Simmelink's rise as a junior means White Buffalos fans can look forward to at least one more season of watching one of Jefferson County's brightest young athletes compete.
Home volleyball matches at Madras High School are free and open to the public. Check the Jefferson County School District 509J website for the remaining schedule.