Colts set for Crook County.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

PREP VOLLEYBALL 

SPRINGFIELD - Thurston has Midwestern League most valuable player Kelsey Rogers, who seemingly has been able to do everything on the volleyball court at times.

But when it came time to play for a spot in the state tournament, Thurston showed it has talent throughout the roster during a 25-19, 25-13, 10-25, 25-17 win over Silverton in a sub-tournament game Saturday night.

"We played our best volleyball of the year on Saturday, so I think we are getting ready," Thurston coach Didier Hemelsoet said. "We tried to do some new stuff on offense, and that was really the first time we had a good team offense; we were not dependent on one player.

"We were playing faster and doing what we need to beat better teams. We have always relied on a couple of players, but now playing as a team makes a big difference."

Thurston will be making its first trip to state since 1999 when the Colts open the OSAA Class 5A tournament Friday at 8 a.m. against Crook County at the Chiles Center in Portland.

"They have no clue what to expect; they have never been there before," Hemelsoet said. "This is the first time in the five years I've been here that we got past the (sub-tournament). It is something they have talked about all year and this was the goal. We have nine seniors who have been through this a couple years, and we prepared well last week and it paid off."

Hemelsoet took Churchill to state in 2001 when the Lancers won the

Midwestern League title and lost to Central Catholic in the first round at the 4A tournament.

"It's different and once you go up there it is a totally different atmosphere," Hemelsoet said. "I hope I can relate that to them this week and give them as much experience as I can from my one time there. I've coached in college, but this was something different and it is hard to explain."

Rogers earned most valuable player honors and was a first-team all-league selection for the second year in a row.

"She had almost 39 percent of kills for the whole team, and it is the same thing on defense; she has more than 30 percent of all digs," Hemelsoet said. "She makes a difference serving, passing, digging and on defense, and her hitting is real good."

Senior Erica Omlid also earned first-team all-league honors.

"She's a very good technician," Hemelsoet said. "She is a good all-around player and what I like is her competitiveness. When the game is on the line, you want her serving."

Senior Ashley Leavitt is a force at the net and was second-team all-league along with outside hitter Tara Hill. Seniors Amy Austin and Emily Urness were honorable mention. Urness served well against Silverton, and that has been a consistent strength.

"I think we are one of the best teams in the state for serving," Hemelsoet said. "When we are really playing well, we can put any team in trouble with our serving. We have different styles of serving, not everyone is the same way, so that is difficult for our opponents to adjust to."

The Colts have seen Crook County at two tournaments this year, but the schools have not played each other.

"We're trying to play faster," Hemelsoet said. "When you rely on your hitting against good teams, you are going to get some kills but defenses adjust and block better, so it is hard to get the ball down. Against Silverton, we got everyone involved ... so I hope this week we will be even better."