Amanda Tams St. Maries Year: Senior Sport: Volleyball Position: Middle Hitter

Growing up, Amanda Tams discovered she was born with natural abilities to play sports. At an early age she excelled at softball and basketball.

But volleyball didn’t come to her as easily.

Tams’ diligence and dedication through the years put her in a position this season that, frankly, didn’t seem plausible two years ago.

A role player as a right-side hitter/outlet setter last year, Tams leads the St. Maries Lumberjacks in kills near the midway mark of the season.

Tams led St. Maries with 13 kills in a non-league win over Lake City last week and had a combined 41 kills in three victories Saturday at the Central Valley Tournament. Her best match was against host CV, when she recorded 16 kills and had just one hitting error.

“I never, ever thought I’d be a key player on the team,” she said.

As a sophomore, Tams appeared destined to spend more time on the bench than at the net. There were two talented players ahead of her at middle blocker and, even when her coach switched her to outside hitter to give her an opportunity to earn playing time, there were other players ahead of her there, too.

Tams bided her time, working hard to become better just in case an opportunity to help her team came along. And for that, Lumberjacks coach Mitch Santos is thankful.

When injuries and transfers depleted St. Maries’ depth this season, Santos turned to Tams.

Tams’ skills aren’t as polished as other top players in the area. In fact, at times her play may appear, for lack of a better word, awkward.

“If you were scouting my team, you probably wouldn’t pick Amanda as a player you’d have to defend,” Santos said. “But you’d be very wrong.”

Said Tams: “Volleyball was one of those sports that I didn’t think I was good at, but I liked to play it. I’ve always wanted to be the best that I can in it. I have quite a ways to go, really. But I’m playing at the highest level I’ve ever played at.”

What makes Tams’ achievements even more amazing is she’s playing in what Santos considers a highly specialized position. In his program, girls who want to be middle hitters generally start playing that position by the seventh or eighth grade - not their senior season.

Opposing coaches have taken notice of Tams’ contributions.

“She’s not what you’d call a gifted volleyball player,” LC coach Kent Scanlon said. “But whenever we play (St. Maries) she gets the job done. She cuts angles and sees the block well and consequently is very effective at the net.”

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