Janke Says To Volleyball Success, Life

Optimism is something new for Coeur d’Alene volleyball player Jessica Janke, but now the senior wears it on her sleeve.

“For a long time I wondered if I was ever going to be really, really happy, and I finally am because of God in my life,” Janke said.

Janke is the Vikings’ vocal leader on the court. No matter what is happening, she wears a smile and is quick to give a supportive word to a teammate.

“I’ve always been a vocal player, but it hasn’t always been positive,” Janke said.

Two years ago, Janke didn’t have anything positive to say after not making the varsity squad at Lake City. Volleyball meant everything to Janke as a sophomore and it seemed like her whole world was falling apart. After she was cut at LC, she transferred to Coeur d’Alene and began the metamorphosis that was completed this year.

“Instead of being Jessica Janke the volleyball player, I needed to be Jessica Janke the person,” Janke said.

The catalyst of the transformation was Vikings coach Karla Mitchell, who Janke looked to as a friend and confidant as well as coach.

“Jessica needed consistency in a relationship where we could believe in each other,” Mitchell said.

The consistency in a relationship led to consistently excellent play this year. Mitchell said she feels that Janke is one of the best all-around players she has coached. That do-everything style of play has been one of the keys to the Vikings’ success this year.

Janke has complemented the powerful hitting of teammate Angie Shirley with her own hitting and hustle on defense. Behind the combination of Shirley, Janke and setter Kimi Towery, the team won the Inland Empire League and Region I titles despite being picked by very few people as the team to beat.

The Vikings (20-4 overall) begin play at the State A-1 Tournament on Friday at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls against Highland (13-20) at 1:30 p.m. PDT.

No matter what happens this weekend, it won’t be the end of the world for Janke as it might have been in the past.

“In the past, as far as I was concerned, as soon as volleyball was over so was school for me,” Janke said. “Now I think school is awesome and I want to get good grades.”

A smile appears on her face now when she thinks about the future. Going to college in her home state, California, and playing volleyball is in the plans for her future. Even college volleyball, though, pales in comparison to what she has planned for summer vacation.

“Seeing Africa has always been my dream, so this summer I’m going on a safari there with my mom,” Janke said. “I’m waiting for some help from God in deciding what exactly I should do after that.”

Seeing her goal of playing college volleyball come to fruition will be a shared joy for Janke. Her sister, Janelle Janke, was a star volleyball player at Coeur d’Alene High four years ago and had a full scholarship to play in college. Janelle had a baby and had to leave college to take care of her child, but instilled the love of the sport in her little sister.

“My sister is the reason I play volleyball, she’s always supported me when I needed her,” Janke said.

Janke feels she was blessed with two families, her own as well as her coach and teammates. That support base allowed her to put a difficult past behind her and focus on what’s important.

“I’ve finally got my priorities straight and I know what’s important in life,” Janke said.

A-2

St. Maries (20-5) and Preston (28-9), which has won two straight state titles, have played in 15 straight state championship matches.

And the bracket is set up for another such final. The tournament is being held at Skyline along with the A-1 tournament.

The Lumberjacks will be seeking their first state crown since 1993 and 12th overall. St. Maries opens in the final first-round match against Bear Lake (26-9) at 1:30 p.m.

Intermountain League runner-up Kellogg (17-6) drew Preston in the tournament’s opening match at 9 a.m. Kellogg is making its first trip to state since 1987.

A-4

Clark Fork (13-10) is making its ninth trip to state in 11 years.

Clark Fork meets Cambridge (17-7) in the first match at 9 a.m. at Bonneville High.