Never is with Laurie Creighton, Olympia’s volleyball coach for the past 32 years.
And that’s why she spent several weekends this fall going to college volleyball matches, checking up on her former players.
“It’s fun,” Creighton said, her two-word summary capturing her commitment to Oly volleyball.
Her passion must be infectious. How else do you explain 10 former Bears, players Creighton coached, who are now playing volleyball in college?
Graduating three to six seniors a year, that works out to a high percentage of former Bears serving overheads and blocking shots at the net in college.
“That is pretty impressive,” Creighton said. “I think it’s an indication of the kind of talent that comes through here.”
Kathryn Mertens went to Western Washington on a track scholarship. But after one year, she dumped track and her scholarship and walked on with the volleyball team. Eventually, she earned a starting spot and a scholarship.
Nina Holbrooks and Kelsey Jewell are both enrolled at Western Washington, but playing volleyball at Whatcom Community College, using up their last year of eligibility as they earn their degrees.
Rosa Gimson is a middle blocker at Linfield. Brigit Miller and Nicole Mertens are now teammates at Willamette.
Michelle Woodward is at Edmonds Community College, Sarah Stoker is a middle blocker at Northwest and Megan Triggs is a libero at Western Oregon.
Jamie Wolph is an outside hitter at Tacoma Community College.
Seven of those former Bears graduated in 2009.
“I like getting a chance to see them play,” Creighton said. “But they’re all playing at once, so it’s hard to get to see them. But it’s worth it. They’ve all worked hard to get where they are.”
And Creighton was the one supplying some push and inspiration. Besides coaching how to spike, serve and set, Creighton always tries to give advice on life.
“They’ll be a person a lot longer than they’ll be a volleyball player,” Creighton said.
POOLE PLAY
Blake Poole isn’t only a scorer, or only a rebounder, or only a passer.
He’s all three.
In three games last week, Saint Martin’s 6-foot-5 senior center scored 65 points, pulled down 35 rebounds and dished out nine assists, earning him the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the week.
Beside the individual award, Poole’s passing, rebounding and scoring also helped the Saints go 3-0. He sank the winning shot in a 75-72 victory over Dominican on Saturday in Phoenix after the Saints trailed by 15 with 8:10 remaining. Poole also inspired with his words.
“Blake did a good job of rebounding and scoring,” Saints coach Keith Cooper said. “But he also did a good job on the bench when he was cheering on his teammates and keeping them positive in a tough, come-from-behind win.”
The Saints (4-1) have lost only to Chaminade, which dropped an 82-74 decision to No. 2-ranked Michigan State on Tuesday night. The Saints play two games on the road this week, against Regis on Friday in Denver and at Colorado School of the Mines on Saturday in Golden, Colo.
SAINTS' HUNT SHINES
Saint Martin’s Spencer Hunt fulfilled his dream Saturday.
He became the second runner in school history to qualify for nationals in cross country when he finished ninth with a personal-best time of 32 minutes, 5 seconds in the 10K on a snowy course in Bellingham.
Two inches of snow fell the night before the race.
Hunt was in 15th place halfway though the race.
“Spencer deserves this,” SMU coach Julie Sullivan said. “He was unlucky last year to fall in an early meet and hurt his hip, which ruined his season. But he kept his eye on the prize and worked hard to get back.”
SMU’s Kyle Van Santen placed 16th in 32:26, one spot out of qualifying for nationals. The Saints’ John Riak has also qualified for nationals.
“Kyle was sick before regionals,” Sullivan said. “If he had another week, he would have made it.”
Joscelyn Minton, a Northwest Christian graduate and a junior at SMU, placed 22nd in the women’s race, running the 6K in 23:54. Minton, a junior, battled injuries last season and played catch-up this season.
Sullivan was nervous on race day. But all her anxiety went away when she saw Hunt in the closing stages.
“I could see it in his face,” Sullivan said. “I knew he was going to do it.”
Nationals are in two weeks at Louisville, Ky.
Gail Wood: 360-754-5443 gwood@theolympian.com
