U-Prep volleyball, Redding Christian football players named Athletes of the Week

Local sports history was made last week when U-Prep became the first school in Shasta County to win a state girls volleyball championship and Redding Christian won its first 8-man CIF Northern Section football title since 2014.

Emerging from those wins were two students whose performances from Nov. 15 to Nov. 20 were key in helping their teams capture championship trophies.

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Below are the Record Searchlight Athletes of the Week:

Ashlee Kraft (U-Prep)

U-Prep senior Ashlee Kraft took command of her team last Saturday in Orange County, as it seemed like the CIF state championship trophy was slipping through her team's fingers.

Kraft and her team had been one of the best in California at receiving serves from its previous opponents. But the Exeter Union High School team was serving aggressive and were ahead two sets to one. Exeter needed just one more frame to stun the No. 2 seed from Redding.

"Being down 2-1 was not only terrifying but it was also a strange feeling," Kraft said through direct message on Instagram. "We were not a team who was used to be down often. We agreed we needed to put our all on the court because it could potentially be the last set we play together."

U-Prep played with greater focus and intensity starting in the fourth set. That helped set its comeback in motion. Kraft led with 26 kills and 22 digs, as U-Prep rallied to win the CIF Division IV state championship in five sets at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

"When (setter) Morgan Wilding had a run of good aces and overall serves, that flipped the switch for us," Kraft said. "Those serves not only helped the score but changed the energy completely."

The win at state was the culmination of goals set by Kraft when she was a freshman. Her most difficult time, she remembered, came during her sophomore year when U-Prep's team then led by Madison Friebel was ousted from the 2019 first round of the CIF state playoffs. Friebel is now a setter at Butler University.

"When we lost that state game, I remember seeing how devastated (Friebel), outside hitter Madison Kremer and libero Gigi Elizarraras were, and I knew at some point I wanted to go farther and not let them down," Kraft said. "Right after the game was over, I sent a picture of my medal in a group chat to them and they were so happy for me. I know they support me and treat me like a little sister."

After winning the championship, her team spent Sunday celebrating at Disney California Adventure Park.

"Since I was a freshman every single year, coach Tawni Kramer had told us that if we win state, we'll go to Disneyland, and every year in my goal book, I have written Disneyland as my biggest goal," Kraft said. "But I never thought it would become a reality."

Now Kraft is in Oceanside spending Thanksgiving with her family. The time off has given her a chance to reflect on some of the memories she's had and a team at U-Prep she's competed for since the sixth grade.

"I wish I could show 'little me' how far I've come and how great of a team I have been blessed to play with," Kraft said. "Because I know she would be beyond happy to see everything I have accomplished and to know just how great this team really is."

Carson Piper (Redding Christian)

Redding Christian senior Carson Piper wouldn't allow his team to lose focus in practice last week before its CIF Northern Section 8-man title game against Tulelake.

Redding Christian had hounded Tulelake all season, winning the first two matchups against the school from Siskiyou by an average of 34 points.

Last Friday, Piper threw two touchdowns, ran for two and scored on the opening second half kickoff to lead Redding Christian past Tulelake 48-0.

The win gave Redding Christian its first CIF Northern Section 8-man title since 2015.

"I knew this was my last game and I knew I wanted to have fun," Piper said.

Piper was unable to play two games against Greenville and Chester because of the Dixie Fire. Piper and the rest of the Redding Christian team dominated in 8-man despite playing teams like Tulelake, Burney and Loyalton more than twice.

"I've been with some of these people for four years," Piper said. "We have a bond, we know what we've been working for and it's good that we finally got (the title)."

Each week, the R-S selects the girl and boy athletes who stand out based on merits from their performance in the prior week. Profiles highlight their accomplishments on the field or inside the gym and provide a glimpse into who they are as students. To make suggestions for Record Searchlight Athletes of the Week, email sports reporter Ethan Hanson at ethan.hanson@redding.com.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: U-Prep, Redding Christian students named Athletes of the Week