Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Oakesdale Nighthawks volleyball captain LouEllen Reed
LouEllen Reed, of Oakesdale, serves in the season-opening match against Tekoa-Rosalia. Reed was named a statewide, Week 4 girls WIAA Athlete of the Week.
OAKESDALE – LouEllen Reed is more than a Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Player of The week for March 15-19.
The Oakesdale senior is considered a phenomenal player and asset for her team, according to her coach McKinzie Turner.
"She's a really big leader and a big asset. We are going to miss her next year," said Turner "It's nice when you have someone like (Reed), who will take players on her own. ... She works well with them and I can trust them with her."
As the captain of the Nighthawks, Reed is a setter and led the league each week in assists. She averaged 30 per match during the shortened season. In her final three matches, Reed posted 97 assists, 27 digs, and nine aces, according to the WIAA.
She earned the honor of being the League MVP. It's an honor bestowed on Reed by the coaches in the 1B Southeast league.
The Nighthawks finished undefeated at 11-0.
"(It's) Well deserved ... She is a consummate team player, a leader, takes charge, and guides us well," said Athletic Director Ken Lindgren. "She organizes things and wants everyone to be included."
Reed is a varsity player and takes part in basketball and track. She also works hard in her education maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout her time in high school. Reed also takes part in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and is an Associated Student Body (ASB) officer.
She earned her ability to be a certified nursing assistant (CAN) last fall and is seeking a nursing degree at Lewis Clark State College next year.
"She's a caring person," said Turner. "She's a really amazing person, always helpful."
Turner first encountered Reed in 2014 and got to know her older sister, Logan Reed, and younger sister Jessie Reed.
"I have had her off and on with me since she was a seventh-grader," Turner said.
Former Oakesdale Coach Brandy Brown oversaw Reed for her freshman and sophomore years.
She came back from a shoulder injury last year.
"In 2019 she stepped right into the leader role and did a great job of being (my) right-hand person," said Turner.
Graduation and pursuing a nursing career may not stop Reed from being involved with Oakesdale volleyball.
"I hope (Reed) can come back and be a guest coach," said Turner. "I can't say enough positive things about her."
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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