Jespersen ready to stand tall for Lady Devils
Thursday, August 21, 2008 6:27 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleEarlier this year, Sara Jespersen decided she was going to take a year off from sports after graduating from Wahkiakum High School.
But a few weeks ago after looking at some old pictures of her playing volleyball for the Mules, she changed her mind.
Jespersen, a 6-foot middle hitter who earned all-Central 2B League honors as a junior and senior, has signed with the Lower Columbia College volleyball team to provide added front-row size.
“Sara hinted around that she was interested in playing college volleyball, and it was a good sign when she called me,” LCC coach Marcy Gilchrist said. “She came to a couple of our open gyms and did really well for having not played since April. She wasn’t intimidated, and she got along great with our other players.”
Jespersen, along with recent signee Cassie Koering of Woodland, gives the Lady Devils a pair of 6-foot middle hitters.
“Sara does more than hit and block,” Gilchrist said. “She showed her ability to chase down balls and make defensive plays. For her to come in and do that through instinct shows her confidence in volleyball and with her teammates. She’s a risk-taker, and it spoke a lot to our coaching staff.”
Jespersen was invited to play in the 23rd annual All-State Volleyball Series, which she described as a “really good” experience.
“I’m the first girl from Wahkiakum High School to be selected to the All-State Series,” she said. “I had awesome playing time with a lot of blocks and kills, along with meeting a lot of girls who are really good players.”
Jespersen also fine-tuned her front-row skills as a member of the 18 Blues team with Cowlitz Volleyball Club.
“I had a chance to see Sara play club ball during her junior year, and I could tell from her personality that she’ll do great things,” Gilchrist said. “She has shown good quickness, which will help her move from side to side in the front row. Having long legs has helped her to take big steps.”
Jespersen plans to study business administration and eventually run the family business.
“My brother is a computer nerd and has his own computer business, and I hope to be able to help him with it,” she added. “I guess it’s a family thing.”
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