Measuring Up Shortest Blott Sister Took Lc Volleyball To New Heights
Lewis and Clark volleyball player Shannon Blott was somewhat short-changed when the big genetic bucks were distributed in her family.
Blott, who is on the short end of 5-foot-8 with her ankles wrapped and tennis shoes on, has two older sisters, each standing 6 feet.
“When they were younger, teachers and coaches tried to get them to play sports, but they just weren’t interested,” Blott said.
“They got me started playing sports when I was young, just knowing that I’d be tall, too. Well, it never happened.”
That didn’t stop Blott from competing. After all, life is what one makes of if it. Alterations must sometimes be made if circumstances don’t fit.
Blott has worn volleyball like a Liz Claiborne suit. She was the 1994 Greater Spokane League’s most valuable player for LC, which won state titles last year and in 1992, Blott’s sophomore season.
Headed to the University of Montana in the fall on a volleyball scholarship, Blott will be participating in the 1995 Washington State Mizuno All State High School Volleyball Series at North Central today and at Fife on Saturday.
The series, which began in 1986, was the first such event for high school seniors in the country.
The top seniors in the state of Washington are selected by committees representing the east and west sides of the state. A/B players from the east will square off in a best-of-five match series against the west starting at 5 p.m., followed by the AAA/AA match at 7 p.m.
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and children 6 and younger are admitted for free.
What didn’t come freely for Blott, however, was attention. The only serious notices from colleges came from Eastern Washington and Whitworth.
Enter LC coach Buzzy Welch.
Welch is a friend of Montana coach Dick Scott. Scott took a look at Blott and walked away convinced that she had the kind of “versatility” as a player that Welch said she had.
“She was recruited by Eastern as a setter, but Montana wants her to be an outside-hitter,” Welch said. “That’s versatility.”
Welch said Blott reminds him of former Ferris and Montana star Angie Bellinger. After graduating from Ferris in the late ‘80s, Bellinger went on to be a Big Sky most valuable player.
“She’s got the same kinds of characteristics. She’s got the leaping ability, she can hit and she’s smart,” Welch said.
While Blott may be smart on the court, and adequate in the classroom - she was a B student in high school - she admitted she needs to work on being more disciplined in the classroom.
“I skated through the high school,” Blott said. “I didn’t do as much as I should have. I want to get my degree in physical therapy, so I’m going to have to take my classes more serious than ever before.”
All-Star Notes
Joining Blott on the East AAA/AA team are the familiar faces of Kim Kleven and Brynn McInturf of University, Kelly Bartleson and Stephanie Short of Shadle Park and Teresa Huddle of LC.
Local players representing the East A/B squad are Katie Cook of Colfax, Heather Almond of Newport, Heather Brandt of Tekoa-Oakesdale and Jennifer Stinson and Andee Marriott of Davenport.
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