For Olson, a stepping stone to bigger things

Published 8:33 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE VALLEY – It was quite an accomplishment for a couple of Mount Si Wildcat volleyball stars recently down in Houston, Texas as their U-18 team from Kent Juniors Volleyball Club finished at the top of its division in the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics tournament.

The team finished in ninth place out of 28 teams. On the team were setter Maggie Olson, a recent Mount Si graduate who will be playing volleyball for Central Washington University next year, and Wildcat senior-to-be hitter Marissa Hill, who is expected to be the main weapon for the team this fall.

The Kent team was the only Washington team in the “Open” division. Among the other teams in the pool was the eventual division champion, Mizuno Sports Performance Elite. Kent lost to this team in three games in pool play and finished 4-2 in the pool. They went into bracket play and won two games to take top spot in the bracket.

“It was so much fun,” said Olson, adding that they played against some of the “best competition out there.”

Olson is ready to adjust to college volleyball.

“I’m just going to work as hard as I can,” she said.

Central is coached by Mario Andaya. Olson will be one of only two scholarship freshmen in the program this fall; the other is from Whatcom County. Olson, however, has not decided on a degree just yet, but she will have a lot on her plate in any event when she leaves for college next month.

According to the Central Washington team Web site, Olson will be joining a fairly young program, with just one senior -also a setter – so it is likely she’ll be starting the season as a backup.

The CWU Wildcats open the season Aug. 27 with a day-night doubleheader in Mankato, Minn.; Central opens its home schedule Sept. 3 with another day-night twin bill. All CWU home matches are played at the campus in Ellensburg, but for Valley fans who want to see Olson without making the trip over the Cascades, the Wildcats will be playing at Seattle University Oct. 7, and at Seattle Pacific Oct. 16.

It has been quite the busy summer for Olson. In addition to her travels to Houston, she also just participated in an all-state volleyball series in Fife, Yakima and Spokane. She currently works at Starbucks and has also been helping out at the Mount Si volleyball camp.