Central Oregonian

Making history

Five players return from last year’s state championship team

LON AUSTIN/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Marissa Pope hits the ball over the block of Kelsi Kemper during a drill on Friday. Pope is expected to start at outside hitter for the Cowgirls, while Kemper is the starting setter.

Lon Austin

The Crook County High School volleyball team is looking to make history.

After winning four consecutive 5A OSAA state volleyball championships, the Cowgirls have dropped to 4A this year and are looking to add to their state championship streak.

“The girls want to break the record,” said head coach Rosie Honl. “Only us and Gresham have ever won four in a row, and we would like to break the record and make it five. I’m trying to play that down, but they want to get the record.”

Gone is Casey Loper who was part of the previous four state championships. Loper, is now a freshman at Arkansas Tech, where she is fighting for a starting position at middle blocker. Also gone is setter Emily Gannon.

However, the cupboard isn’t bare. The Cowgirls have five returning varsity performers. Junior setter Kelsi Kemper and sophomores Marissa Pope (outside hitter), and Makayla Lindburg (middle blocker) all return for the Cowgirls after all-league seasons a year ago.

Also returning are juniors Braiden Johnston (libero), and Kirsti Kelso (outside hitter).

The young Cowgirls have just one senior and four juniors on their roster. The lone senior is April Senner, who did not play in 2009 as she was a foreign exchange student in Thailand.

Joining the Cowgirls varsity for the first time are juniors Bree Porfily, sophomore Annie Fraser, and freshmen Hannah Troutman and Maddie Lindburg.

“We are very young,” Honl said. “But, we are mighty skilled, and very mindful. We have been working really hard on fundamentals. Our ball handling and defense are going to be good and we have great setting.”

Not only will the Cowgirls be young, they are short — very short by volleyball standards. Just one player on the roster is taller than 5-8.

Makayla Lindburg, the only player taller than 5-8, is expected to lead the Cowboys attack. The 5-10 sophomore can be a dominating hitter and blocker. Honl is also looking for Pope and Kelso to step up and become solid hitters.

Troutman is expected to step in as the team’s second middle blocker, while Maddie Lindburg will be a defensive specialist. Fraser and Porfily are expected to step in as outside hitters.

“They are going to be a fun group to watch,” Honl said. “We’re ooking forward to another successful season. They are just a fun group to coach. They are respectful, hard working and real team players.” The team motto this season is TEAM — Tenacius, Enthusiastic, great Attitudes, and Mindful.

“If we take care of business and have good fundamentals then winning will take care of itself,” Honl said. “They are just nice kids and it’s going to be a fun year.”

Although the Cowgirls are in the Central Oregon Hybrid League with Redmond, Mountain View, Summit, and Bend, they will also play in Special District 1 this year. The special district was supposed to consist of Roosevelt, Marshall, and Crook County. However, Marshall did not have enough players to have a varsity team this year so they will only field sub-varsity teams.

Because of that, the Cowgirls need only defeat Roosevelt twice and they will be assured of a home match for the play-in game that they must win in order to reach the state playoffs.

Crook County will start their season on Friday, Sept. 3, when they play in the Summit Jamboree. The jamboree is a round robin format, with matches beginning at 8 a.m.

The team’s first full match will be Tuesday, Sept. 7 when they host Redmond with game-time scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The team will host their annual Blue and Gold scrimmage on Thursday, Sept. 9.

Blue and Gold Information

Dinner — A pulled pork dinner will be served from 5 -7 p.m.

Auction — There will be a silent auction during dinner, and baskets will be auctioned off throughout the scrimmage.

Scrimmage — Volleyball action begins at 7 p.m. with JV Gold action. The JV Blue tea m will scrimmage second, followed by the Varsity team.

Tickets — Tickets are available from all volleyball players and are available at the gate. Cost for a ticket is $6.