Molly Jones Ferris Year: Senior Sport: Volleyball Event: Setter

Competing in the 16-team Walla Walla volleyball tournament, which featured the last two Washington State AAA champions (Lewis and Clark and Shadle Park) as well as top teams from northern California and Oregon, didn’t faze Ferris setter Molly Jones.

“Not at all,” the 5-foot-9 senior said. “I actually thought we would win.”

The Saxons finished third, losing in the semifinals to Central Catholic of Portland, which has been together for five years through club and school play with the same coach. Jones was the only GSL player on the all-tournament team.

“She’s one of the most competitive people I know,” Ferris coach Stacey Ward said. “She’s a little bit fiery at times. She wants to win and that rubs off on everyone else.”

Jones, who will visit Portland, New Mexico State, Utah and Oregon State as she considers her future, has impressed her coach from opening day this year.

“She ran the show; it was totally obvious she was in charge on the court,” Ward said. “The offense we’re running is fairly complicated and it requires her to make split-second decisions. Some offenses choreographed. The offense we run, the hitters call the play as the ball is being passed and Molly has to respond to that. She’s running it and for the most part making it look pretty easy.”

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