Lindsey sets Saints up for success

When attending a Saints volleyball match in Mt. Hood’s gymnasium, it’s easy to spot the raw athletic ability of second-year setter Shealee Lindsey. The plays that Shealee, “Shea” for short, makes at any given point can easily change the momentum of an entire match.

The 5-foot, 4-inch Lindsey began playing volleyball her freshman year at Pendleton High School, later joining club volleyball her junior year.

Volleyball wasn’t her first sport. At age 9, she began playing softball and has played ever since. During her time at Pendleton, she won all-league honors, all-state honors, and 5A Player of the year awards for both volleyball and softball.

Lindsey, who plays in the outfield for MHCC softball, helped last year’s team bring home the NWAC championship.

Pendleton High school has had a rich tradition and connection in recent years with Saints women’s programs. Former Saints coach Chelsie Speer, who recently led MHCC to two South Region crowns, coached Lindsey at Pendleton before her time at Mt. Hood.

When Lindsey isn’t setting up a kill, she enjoys hanging with friends and shopping.

She lists both her sister, Jessi Lindsey, and cousin, Rylie Engelson, as role models. “I look up to my older sister a lot because she’s the one that really got me into sports when I was younger, like softball starting out. She never played volleyball, but her and my cousin just pushed me to do the sports,” she said.

Both Jessi Lindsey and Engelson are former Saints. Jessi played softball, while Engelson was an All-American in volleyball (later playing for Eastern Oregon University).

Currently working on a transfer degree, Shea Lindsey would like to get into the sports medicine field.

She described important pre-game rituals. “We listen to music in the team room, me and Kiana (Miller) have to hit the top part of the door before we walk out of the team room, and we walk out in pairs together,” she said.

Lindsey discussed what it’s like playing in a volleyball match: “It’s really fast-paced. In softball, you have a lot of time to think about mistakes you made and get frustrated about it, but in volleyball you have to recover right away or it’s just all a big mess.”

This year, she’s had to make the transition from playing under Speer to new head coach Andrew Clifton.

“It’s definitely a change from anything I’m used to in the past. It’s actually a nice change in pace,” she said. “He really pushes us more than a lot of us think we can handle. I think he is a really good coach.

“In the beginning, it was hard because it was so much different but once we got the hang of it, it’s gotten a lot easier to settle in,” she continued. “Once we start putting it all together and getting the hang of it, we do a lot better.”

Clifton had some good things to say about Lindsey.

“She has bought into the program. She works super hard and she’s open to learning new things,” he said. “All the things that new coaches struggle with in their first year, she’s been a model athlete on the team that has helped out with the transition.

“She has always been somebody on the team that I know I can count on to try her best to put the game plan forward,” he said.

Lindsey’s main goal this season is to push the Saints to the NWAC playoffs, with anything more a bonus. The top four teams in the South make it to the playoffs, and Mt. Hood is currently in fourth.

Once volleyball season ends, Lindsey finds familiar ground in playing softball for veteran head coach Meadow McWhorter.

“It’s a nice change… something to look forward to after volleyball’s over. It’s definitely the closest thing to family because everyone is so tight on the team and Coach makes it really fun,” she said.

After she’s done at Mt. Hood, Lindsey would like to attend a four-year university, preferably a school in California. Lindsey isn’t sure what sport she will play, waiting on the scholarship offers she gets from schools.

Mt. Hood has been a great experience for Lindsey, she said. “I’m definitely really glad that I chose to come here because its not too far away from home, but it’s far enough away that I can get the feel for how it is to be on my own.”

She continued, “I like Mt. Hood and how close everyone is. Team-wise, I think it’s a lot more family oriented.”

Lindsey will be vital in Mt. Hood’s final push this season, hoping to set up another Saints playoff run.