FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
LOGAN TUSHER/ ELENA FISHER
Branson entered this season looking to reclaim the spot it held atop the Marin volleyball food chain in the early 2010s. When the regular season ended, the Bulls found themselves in third place, looking up at both Redwood and Marin Catholic.
Once the postseason began, the Bulls found a new gear and didn't lose another game, sweeping their way to MCAL, North Coast Section, and State titles. At the heart of that success was the setter/outside hitter combination of Logan Tusher and Elena Fisher — the IJ's picks for players of the year. Junior Tusher and sophomore Fisher emerged from a crowded field of worthy players, including Redwood setter Kaley Mathews, Archie Williams outside hitter Elsa Snipes, and Marin Catholic libero Tehani Ulufatu.
“Elena is one of our best passers and defensively, that's what starts the play a lot of the time,” Branson coach Michelle Brazil said. “Obviously, Logan benefits from a great pass and Elena benefits from a great set. It's a really symbiotic relationship and one that worked really well for us throughout the year.”
Both players seemed to elevate their games when it mattered most, cresting with a pair of eye-popping stat lines in the state title game. Fisher put up 29kills and 25digs while Tusher dished out 53assists and had 20digs. Branson, which wins section titles on a near-annual basis, claimed its first state title since 2015and first MCAL title since 2014. “What makes (Fisher) so great is she's a really great teammate,” Tusher said. “She brings energy and effort all the time — not only in matches but in practice, too. She's always giving full effort, is never going to be the one to slack off or be unfocused. She's always putting in as much effort and work as she can in the gym.”
Tusher and Fisher still have one more season together at Branson. Tusher is set to play beach volleyball for Stanford in 2024.
“The best quality about Logan as a setter is how aware and how smart she is on the court,” Fisher said. “Almost everything she does is done with thought, whether its her play choice or trying to separate the block or get the best matchup.