Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

All-Area volleyball: Hjellum, Opitz take top honors

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

Marcy Hjellum has had a few days now to reflect upon her senior volleyball season and how far Kamiakin went.

The outside hitter earned CBBN Player of the Year honors in helping the Braves to an undefeated league season, district championship and a second-place finish at regionals.

The Braves capped their season by reaching the 4A state championship match for the first time in the program's history, falling to nationally ranked Lewis & Clark in three sets yet setting a standard for future Kamiakin teams to reach.

"It was probably during the Mead match (in the regional semifinals), the fifth game, that I realized that we'd raised the bar for us," Hjellum said. "We were up there with the top teams in the state ... that it was realistic for us to beat these teams."

For her part in helping Kamiakin reach these lofty heights, Hjellum was selected as the Herald's All-Area Volleyball MVP. She becomes the third Kamiakin player to win the honor, joining Lauren Mathis (2003) and Erica Jepsen (2005).

"It's an honor. It feels good to know people notice how much I love the sport," said Hjellum, who is getting looks from Seattle Pacific, Central Washington, Concordia and Lewis-Clark State but hasn't committed yet. "I wasn't expecting a lot. I just worked so hard, and I had the success I was hoping for."

Hjellum had seven double-doubles during league play in kills and digs, leading the team in both categories for the year.

She revved up her offense in the postseason, recording double digits in kills in nine of 10 matches, including five with 20 or more, and averaged 5.1 kills per set (184 total).

More importantly, though, was Hjellum was the team's sparkplug in matches. For example, in the Braves' first-round state match against Roosevelt, it was her back-to-back kills that got the team out of its first-set funk en route to a straight-set victory.

"She had some games where I would just go, 'Wow! That's impressive,' " said coach Mary Opitz, who earned Coach of the Year honors for the first time in her 23rd season at the helm.

"But she's also one of the most driven, hard-working players I've ever had. She's a really good role model. She just leads by example and hopes that everyone else follows her."

Opitz was surprised with her selection, but Hjellum said her encouragement and guidance were key to the team's success.

"She was just real positive and kept us striving to be the best we could be," Hjellum said. "Every day at practice, she had us remembering our goals and always kept reminding us not to underestimate anyone."

Hjellum was one of three repeat All-Area selections along with senior middle blockers Becky Flores of River View and Kinzi Poteet of Grandview.

Also making the first team were setters Shelby Swanson of Kamiakin and Rachel Todorovich of Walla Walla; middle blockers Chelsey Bettinson of Richland, Elizabeth Clark of Southridge and Allison Walker of Othello; and Pasco libero Hailey Lanning.

Only Bettinson, a sophomore, is an underclassman on the first team.