After a ninth-place finish, (third in the Southern Region) in the 2004 season, the Mt. Hood Community College volleyball team is playing with high expectations and positive goals.
With six freshmen and five sophomores on this year’s squad, Coach Lena Chan hopes to gain from the capability that exists within the team.

“The reason we are so excited for this season is simply because of our improvement. While other teams in the past relied on the skills and talent of some of the women, this year’s team steadily improves each day to make themselves better,” said Chan.

The team started the year by traveling to Arizona to compete in a tournament held in Thatcher, Ariz., at Eastern Arizona College. The women got the experience of playing against teams from Florida, Wyoming, Kansas and Idaho.

“Out of all the teams there, I would say that the College of Southern Idaho was the best team. They have won national championships,” said Chan. Following the tournament in Arizona, the women came back to Oregon and played another tournament at Chemeketa Community College in Salem.

Mt. Hood defeated South Western Oregon, Linn-Benton, Chemeketa, Olympic and Clackamas community colleges, losing only to Green River and won the tournament.
Freshman Jamie Richards won the Tournament Most Valuable Player award while freshman Rashelle Davenport and sophomore Jeannette Jones were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Last Wednesday, the Saints beat the Chemeketa Storm 30-27, 30-21, 28-30, 30-14, creating an overall record of 12-5 with a 7-1 record within their conference, and are 2-0 against Southern Region teams. The team won three straight NWAACC titles from 2000-02, including a first-place finish every year in the Southern Region.

As of Sept. 19, the Brittney Belshe led the team in kills with 26, averaging 3.25 per game and has 20 digs averaging 2.5 per game. Angela Scott is leading the team with 59 assists, 7.38 per game, and Jones leads in digs with 32, averaging four per game, Jean Rho follows closely with 27 digs, averaging 3.38 per game.

Since, the team strategy has changed, emphasizing teamwork more than individual play. The team is led by sophomores Jones, Brittany Jackson, Jocelyn Edlin, Kynsi Stout, and Scott, a transfer from Chemeketa.

The freshmen members include Davenport, Kelsey DeLaGrange, Belshe, Rho, Tasha Kite and Richards. After the success the team has achieved in the past few years, six women have gone on to play at four-year schools.

“The women have what it takes to play at a higher level. They are good players and hard workers,” Chan said of her team. After a faster start this year, the team hopes to continue getting better with each practice and game and stay ahead of the NWAACC standings, Chan said.