PHOTO: Doug Lange
1998 State Volleyball Champs to be Honored Tonight at Meridian
October 16, 2018
Meridian volleyball will take a trip back in time tonight when they host Sehome in Laurel. The 20th anniversary of the 1998 Trojan state championship volleyball squad will be honored.
The 98 squad was the first state championship team in Meridian school history. The team was led by head coach Tana Croft and assistant coach Jennifer Childress. Players included Shannon Rowland, Bree MacDonald, Kara Morgan, Yolanda Brionez, Jenny Oiness, Jessica Castaneda, Cassie Brazen, Beth Rowland, Jessie Olson, Katie Christofferson and Beth Stockton.
Meridian swept Chimacum, Grandview and Newport before beat Colville 2-1 (15-11, 14-16 & 15-9) to claim the 2A crown.
MORE: Listen to our interview with Meridian volleyball
Shannon Claeys (Rowland) is now the head coach of Meridian volleyball. She can't believe it's already been 20 years but she's excited to see her former teammates and the parents and community supporters from 1998.
"We had the just the best group of fans that were just there all the way, every single game doing crazy cheers," says Claeys. "To have these people come back and kind of show that tradition of what we used to do and maybe teach it to the parents now. It's just that Meridian is such a great place to be and the community...it's a great place."
Meridian volleyball coach & 1998 star player Shannon Claeys (Rowland)
PHOTO: Doug Lange
The celebration begins at 6:00 pm with the match between the Trojans and the Mariners slated to start at 7:00pm
- Doug Lange
