Seniors make final year count

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork volleyball team is having a very successful season this year, thanks in part to the team's four seniors, Bekah Bell, Jill Hamilton, Rachael Luckow and Roxy Thurman. They not only provide leadership, but also lead the team, and sometimes the conference, in stats on the court.

"The four seniors are very different in their leadership styles," said head Bigfork volleyball coach Yvonne Peck. "Bekah is more the nurturer, mothering type of leader. She takes care of everyone and works well with all the others. Jill leads more as a peer leader and friend. She is very inclusive of all with her style. Rachael is a quiet, strong leader through example. She expects her peers to do their jobs and make each other better, and she is willing to take time with younger athletes and get better herself. Roxy is more of an omnipotent leader. She wants teammates to just follow and her strong personality helps her accomplish that."

Regardless of their style, all four girls are taking their leadership roles seriously, as well as their last season on the team.

"As a senior you show a lot of leadership to the younger girls," Hamilton said. "Knowing it's your last year you play harder to win and try to help the underclassmen as much as you can."

The seniors had their work cut out for them at the start of the season with three juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen comprising the rest of the varsity team.

"I think the differences in the seniors as people and the different leadership styles bring balance to our team," Peck said. "They all contribute with digs, kills, blocks, and set assists, but more than the sum of the stats is what they teach the younger athletes about the importance of each game, each point, each practice, each win or each loss. As their careers come to an end, there is no next time, week or next year. The distinct differences in these seniors also let the younger girls realize that we don't have to be a certain way, height, weight, personality, or skill to have worth to a team."

The seniors all said they were impressed with the talent of this year's freshmen.

"Their hustle, drive and team work has helped them to succeed," Thurman said.

Hamilton agreed and said that the new additions to the team were hard workers and showed a lot of heart for the game.

With two games left in their regular season the girls have helped their team to a 7-2 record in conference and 9-2 overall. The Vals are now guaranteed to finish in the top three of the Northwest Class A conference for the regular season — a place the seniors weren't too sure they would be sitting before the season started.

"In the beginning we were a lot better than I thought we'd be," Luckow said. "We've had our down points, but I think we can hold it together and do well at divisonals."

Hamilton said she attributes the successful season to the improvements in the team.

"I think this year we connect well and communicate well together," she said. "I think that we have a good focus on wanting to go to state and I think we have a pretty good chance of doing well if we get there. I'm looking forward to us playing some good volleyball because this is a really competitive season. If we do well and get a good seed we should be able to keep pushing and do well at the divisional tournament knowing we earned a good seed going in."

All of the girls said they are looking forward to the divisional tournament, which takes place in Polson Nov. 13-15.

"Winning divisionals would be really exciting," Bell said. "Going to state would be amazing. Rachael and I have never been in a state event."

The seniors seem to never forget that this is their last year to play for the Vals, and have strived to make the most of the season.

"You know you have one shot and you don't have any do-overs," Bell said. "You want to leave a lasting impression on the underclassman."

Luckow agreed that there is more at stake as a senior.

"You have more to play for," she said. "You know this is your last year so you try to give everything you have and leave it all on the court."

The team has improved in many ways this season, according to the seniors.

"Our ability to sideout and get the ball back has been better," Thurman said.

Bell added that the team's "ability to keep our drive and endurance mentally has gotten better, and not just in the first and second games, but the third, fourth and fifth games as well."

At this time last year things weren't so positive for three of the four girls. Hamilton had to have ACL surgery, Luckow had a partially dislocated shoulder and Bell had an inoperable shoulder injury which doctors said would keep her from playing volleyball again.

"I was told my career was over, so it made me push harder to get better so I could play," Bell said.

In an odd way their injuries may actually be to thank for this year's success.

"When I was sitting out last year I just kept thinking that I have one more year left and I have to make it good," Hamilton said.

Luckow shared the same feeling and desire to make this season one to remember.

"You know what it feels like to be on the bench, so when you're out there and you start feeling like you're slowing down you just think of that and you get a whole new adrenaline rush," she said.

Despite injuries, a young team and the ups and downs of the season, these four seniors have helped the Vals to a successful winning season.

"We are no longer young at this time of year and that is a tribute to these seniors as well," Peck said. "We have young in age athletes contributing to all three levels of our team. The seniors have helped some younger athletes grow very quickly."