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.
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College update: Wodrich, Swanson earn all-GNAC honors
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Two Tri-Citians were named first-team Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's volleyball all-stars last week.
Lindsey Wodrich and Shelby Swanson, who both play for Seattle Pacific University, were both honored this week.
Wodrich, a senior from Richland High, was a unanimous and repeat selection at outside hitter. She led 21-7 SPU with 394 kills and had 288 digs.
Othello's Walker earns WAC volleyball honor
Othello's Walker earns WAC volleyball honor
MOSCOW, Idaho -- For the second time in her career and the first time this season, Idaho sophomore outside hitter Allison Walker has earned Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week honors.
Walker, an Othello High School graduate, helped the Vandals to back-to-back three-set wins over Eastern Washington and Utah State during the week, as she averaged 6.67 kills, 4.83 digs and 6.92 points per set while hitting .202.
Walker extended her double-double streak to six matches as she finished with a season-high 24 kills and a career-best 17 digs at Eastern Washington and had 16 kills and 12 digs against defending WAC tournament champion Utah State.
Here's a college update
Here's a college update
Here's a look at what some of our area's athletes have been up to lately:
IDAHO: Outside hitter Allison Walker (Othello) was named first-team all-Western Athletic Conference in volleyball recently. Walker, a sophomore, led the league with 4.31 kills per game in WAC matches, and added 2.69 digs and 0.49 blocks per game while hitting .212. She had 13 double-doubles on the season, and was a three-time WAC Player of the Week in 2011. Her 4.65 points per game ranked second in the conference. Walker was also a first-team all-WAC selection in 2010. Idaho advanced to the WAC tournament semifinals in Las Vegas before falling to New Mexico State. Walker was named to the all-tournament team.
MONTANA: Senior middle blocker Brittany Quick (Hanford) was an honorable mention selection to the All-Big Sky Conference volleyball team. Quick led Montana in both hitting percentage (.259) and blocks (0.96/s) her final season with the Grizzlies. Her averages in those categories ranked seventh and ninth in the Big Sky.
Richland volleyball eliminated in regionals
Richland volleyball eliminated in regionals
RICHLAND -- The Richland volleyball team came up short in its quest to get back to the Class 4A state tournament, falling in five sets to Central Valley at home Tuesday.
The Bears knocked off the Bombers 18-25, 25-15, 25-15, 17-25, 16-14 to win the opening round match of the Class 4A Eastern Washington Regional.
"It's always tough to lose your match of the season at home," Richland coach Bob Raidl said. "We just really struggled closing out the fifth set. We were ahead 13-9 and just couldn't close it out.
College update: Othello's Walker named All-WAC volleyball
College update: Othello's Walker named All-WAC volleyball
MOSCOW, Idaho -- University of Idaho outside hitter Allison Walker (Othello) was named first-team all-Western Athletic Conference in volleyball recently.
Walker, a sophomore, led the league with 4.31 kills per game in WAC matches, and added 2.69 digs and 0.49 blocks per game while hitting .212. She had 13 double-doubles on the season, and was a three-time WAC Player of the Week in 2011.
Her 4.65 points per game ranked second in the conference. Walker was also a first-team all-WAC selection in 2010. Idaho advanced to the WAC tournament semifinals in Las Vegas before falling to New Mexico State. Walker was named to the all-tournament team.
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