Competing with the state’s best players

For former Williston High School volleyball player Katelyn Christensen, there is still some volleyball left to be played.

Christensen was among 23 of the best graduated seniors to be selected to participate in the 2009 Class A and Class B All-Star Volleyball Series, sponsored by the North Dakota Optimists and the North Dakota High School Coaches Association.

The two-match series started on Tuesday night in Fargo and will conclude this evening with a match at Century High School in Bismarck.

This evening's match will start at 7 p.m.

"We're just pumped," Christensen said about getting out on the volleyball court.

Her selection to the team was made known to Christensen last fall at the state tournament.

"It's awesome to get together to go play," she said.

Christensen says her selection to the team is not just about representing the school or community.

"It's more of representing the West than the school," she said.

The West All-Stars began practicing Friday for this week's events. Christensen says it took a little bit of time to get the kinks ironed out, but everybody seems to be on the same page.

"It took a couple of practices," she said. "The more we get to know each other, the better we play."

The key to the West's success this evening comes down to communicating.

"Keep talking," Christensen said. "We've got some tall girls, so we have some tall blocks to go get. But we've just got to keep talking."

After this evening, Christensen will begin preparing for her next step up the athletic ladder as she will be taking part in volleyball and track and field at Dickinson State University.

In her final season at Williston High School, Christensen was an WDA All-Conference selection.

Rosters

EAST ALL-STARS

Class A Coach: Carolyn Olson and Melissa Miedema – Red River; Class B Coach: Rich Olson – Langdon

Kayla Nelson Central Cass

Megan Storstad Red River

Ashley Doeden Hillsboro

Aubrey Fraase Shanley

Jessie Gust West Fargo

Nicki Schumacher Thompson

Blake Selisker West Fargo

Veronica Munkeby Lisbon

Brittany Olson Northern Cass

Kelsey Larson Fargo North

Sarah Denne West Fargo

Courtney Becker Langdon

WEST ALL-STARS

Class A Coach: Jeni Walsh – Bismarck Century; Class B Coach: Melini Grosulak – Dickinson Trinity

Abbey Aide Bottineau

Katelyn Christensen Williston

Brianna Kraft Minot

Shari Hewson New England

Breanna Messer Dickinson Trinity

Stephanie Barnhart Kenmare

Rebecca Johnson Dickinson

Brianna Beecher Hazen

Keri Nelson Kenmare

Kaitlyn Sturlaugson Bismarck

Hailee Walsh Bismarck Century