Role Model Rogers Volleyball Captain Monica Abrahamson Leads By Example

Like her biblical namesake, Rogers volleyball player Monica Abrahamson has been called upon as a role model.

“She’s been the driving force holding us all together,” said coach Anna Vanderpool.

Abrahamson is also a footnote to Rogers history. She is one of eight Pirates to play on back-to-back winning teams for the first time since 1979 and 1980.

Six are seniors, which in Vanderpool’s eyes makes Abrahamson’s leadership status more impressive.

“It’s quite a role, not only for a senior, but for a senior leading seniors,” she said. “It’s kind of hard.”

But it’s a burden made lighter because Abrahamson has continued to do the same things she has for three years on the Rogers varsity.

“I’m more of a person who leads by example,” she said. “I’m not a ‘let’s go, let’s go’ rah-rah person. That’s my cocaptain, Jen.”

Together, statistical leaders Abrahamson, two-year starters Jennifer Christensen and Angel Fairbanks, and their veteran teammates have experienced last year’s 11-5 fourth-place Greater Spokane League season and regional tournament appearance.

With one match remaining this year, tonight at Gonzaga Prep, they are 11-6 including an earlier upset victory over then-unbeaten Mead.

“It was the awesomest game I’ve played in my life, the highlight of my career,” said Abrahamson. “It was like we were all clicking, like we were unstoppable.”

There were few awesome games for Pirate volleyball players to look back on over a previous 15-year period.

When Abrahamson came aboard as a sophomore, the Pirates went 3-13.

“I was young and really didn’t think about winning,” she remembered. “I was afraid of the other girls. I was very intimidated.”

Last year the Rogers middle blocker said she let the experienced seniors do the leading while she went along for a magical ride.

“Last year was a total shock,” said Abrahamson. “This year it’s like we’ve been there before and should again.”

Vanderpool told her at season’s start that it was now her turn to assume a position of influence.

“Monica’s not a big talker, she just goes out and plays,” said Vanderpool. “Everyone looks up to her. I expect a lot from her and she gives us a lot.”

The 5-foot-11 Abrahamson has been team kills leader in all but four matches, including highs of 25, 23 and 20.

Abrahamson is a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball and softball at Rogers.

Volleyball is her favorite. She began playing in sixth grade, joining her first elite team, which Vanderpool coached, when she was a sophomore.

Last year she played on a team coached by Community Colleges of Spokane’s Irene Matlock and Eastern Washington University’s Pam Parks.

“I’ve been a middle blocker my whole life,” she said. “I was tall so they stuck me there.”

In her spare time, Abrahamson works for Cinnabon at NorthTown, making and selling cinnamon rolls.

Nothing, however, has been as sweet as the volleyball success she’s experienced the last two years at Rogers.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo