They had everything going for them, so it seemed.
Friends off the court.
So much talent on the court.
A young squad last year, the Camas volleyball program came within two points of advancing the Class 4A state tournament.
Because the Papermakers had so much talent, because they had so much love for one another, expectations soared for this season.
It turns out, the Papermakers are right where they expected to be — league champions heading to bi-district on an emotional high.
Only, it took some time to figure things out on the court this season.
“We needed to focus on the team instead of ourselves,” senior Halle Sessions said. “Once we realized that, we changed right away. It was more of becoming a family on the court.”
Because off the court, there were no problems, no drama, the Papermakers say.
It was just difficult on the court as everybody wanted to get their stats, their playing time maxed out. The team struggled to find its potential, losing its first two matches of the season.
They had a team meeting.
“It’s not about being individuals but everybody using their individual talents toward the team, toward our team goal — toward state,” added junior Keelie LeBlanc.
“We all knew we had the talent,” Sessions said.
“We needed the team trust,” LeBlanc said.
It is not as if Camas lost to weak teams. In fact, every one of those losses came against teams that are in the postseason.
It’s just that they were not performing to the best of their abilities.
Camas coach Michelle Allen said the team just needed to become one, to take all the talent from a squad full of different club stars and encourage them to accept roles for this team.
“We went through a lot of bumps at the beginning,” Allen said. “They encountered it. They worked through it.
“This is high school. We have 12 weeks together. This is time to show pride in being a Camas Papermaker.”
Camas won 11 of their last 13 matches, including a 7-1 mark in the 4A GSHL — a league championship.
Sessions, LeBlanc, and the other team captain, Natalie Scholtes, did their part, starting converstaions. LeBlanc added, though, that just saying the right things was not nearly as important as actually doing the right things.
“Once we beat Prairie in that fifth set, that really started the flow of our season,” LeBlanc said of a non-league victory over the 3A GSHL champion.
“Once we clicked, we excelled from there,” Sessions added.
Now the Papermakers are hoping to clinch a berth to the state tournament. The top eight teams from the 16-team bi-district tournament, which starts Friday, will make it to state.
That is the ultimate goal, of course, the state tourney.
But the Papermakers also want to enjoy what they have already earned. The way the season started, they had some doubts. Were they as good as they thought they were? Yes, yes they were.
Just took some time.
“It’s a really good feeling to be part of this team,” Sessions said.
“It feels good to have fun with each other, love each other,” LeBlanc said.
Off the court, they are sisters. On the court, the Papermakers became even closer this season.
