ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY VOLLEYBALL: Roberts is a force to behold
Lynden’s Roberts can dominate from anywhere on the court.
Jessi Roberts knows exactly where she plans to be next year when November rolls around. In fact, she has it planned almost to the hour.
“Next year when we do this interview let’s make it a couple hours later,” Roberts said shortly after the Lynden volleyball team finished sixth at the Class 2A state tournament this season. “We’ll be out on the court right now playing for a championship.”
The comment was intended to be mostly tongue-in-cheek, of course, but it’s difficult not to take the junior outside hitter seriously when she says a state title could be in the Lions’ future. Perhaps the only thing greater than Roberts’ sense of optimism is the immense talent she possesses on a volleyball court.
Like no other player in the Northwest Conference — and perhaps the state at the Class 2A level — Roberts can dominate a match from the front row, back row or the service line. This season she helped Lynden to its second-highest finish in school history, was named to the All-NWC first-team as an outside hitter and was the one player opposing coaches knew had to be stopped.
For the second year in a row Roberts is The Bellingham Herald’s All-Whatcom County Volleyball Player of the Year. Joining her from Lynden as the Coach of the Year is Chris Elsner.
The two helped lead Lynden to a 17-4 mark and the brink of playing in a state championship match
before falling in a hard-fought semifinal contest to Tumwater in five games.
“When Jessi turns it on and goes off, she is unstoppable,” Elsner said in a phone interview. “When she decides to do that, it’s fun to watch.”
By those parameters then, perhaps at no point this season was Roberts a finer entertainer than at the state tournament in Kennewick. A force to behold, she finished with more than 60 kills in Lynden’s four state tournament matches despite being the focal point of everyone’s block.
“I’m really satisfied with the season,” Roberts said. “I was thinking that we could go farther, but there were those last few points that we just couldn’t push through. That will show next year, because we’ll be stronger as a team and we’ll know what to do in those situations.”
The five-game loss to Tumwater in the semifinals still stings for Roberts, especially with matchpoint coming on her attack error, but it also illustrates the strides she’s made as a player over the past two years.
In her freshman year she had a hard time overcoming the feeling of responsibility that came with a loss that kept the Lions from the district tournament. This season at state the loss was devastating, but not debilitating.
“I think I’ve matured enough as an athlete to know that it was just one hit that went out,” Roberts said. “And how many did I have that went in? That one just happened to be at the end of the game.”
The next step in Roberts’ evolution as a player will be taking on an even greater leadership role on and off the court. She’d also like to provide a calming influence for the Lions next season. It’s something she concentrated on and continues to strive for.
“I think I’m a stronger player mentally this season,” Roberts said. “I had a much stronger attitude and showed more leadership. I think I took on that role, especially on the court. That was the biggest difference for me this season.”
She’s also decided to concentrate on volleyball this winter, skipping high school basketball to play club volleyball in Canada. Her skills have attracted the attention of several colleges, including Western Washington University and Gonzaga University.
Of course, all of that is in the future. And if the chanting and cheering that began, even in defeat, shortly after Lynden wrapped up its season at the state tournament is any indication, the Lions are already looking forward to celebrating in 2008.
“It was a chance to praise one and other and that we were there and to have some fun,” Roberts said. “That’s why we play volleyball. I didn’t think it would be like that so soon after the match, but it was awesome that it was and we could be like that as a team.”
1 comment:
That is awesome! Wayt to go Jessi!!!
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