The “Super Sophomores” of MHCC

It’s been a long two-to-three years of anticipation for our Mt. Hood Saints volleyball team. We’ve all been waiting to have sports competition again, with wide-open gym doors for fans, for the first time since 2019.

The current season is underway, and we can feel the excitement, as the Saints are (as of Oct. 20) tied for fourth place in the South Region, battling for a playoff spot in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).

At the head of the team is Kirsten “Kirt” Day, Mt. Hood head coach. In her third year as the Saints’ leader, she is no stranger to MHCC and Saints volleyball: as a playing member of the NWAC volleyball champs two years in a row, 1983 and 1984, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.

When asked what her goals were, as far as the team and its players, Day replied education and schooling were the No. 1 emphasis, then added, “I coach them to compete at a higher level and a consistent level. I get them to move on to better opportunities in volleyball.”

She does what she can to help her players on the next step of their journey. She’s written letters of recommendations to other colleges on behalf of her players, and has connections with institutions like Portland State and Oregon State universities where she’s recommended they look at some of her players.

In the tough South Region, the Saints have a battle vying for a playoff spot, their hopes resting on the performances of what I’ll call the “Treacherous 3,” a trio of returning veteran players known as “super sophomores” (due to COVID, players across the NWAC are being given a third  year to complete their eligibility).

At the head of the trio is and middle blocker Josie Jansen, who hails from Sandy and was an all-Mount Hood Conference all-league selection in high school. At Mt. Hood she’s majoring in respiratory care and currently holds a 3.7 GPA.

Jansen holds an impressive record (through Oct. 20) of 157 kills at 3.27 kills per set. Last season she was twice named offensive player of the week. When asked what inspires her, she replied, “I’m grateful to play another year and I get to play in front of our fans [this season].”

Our next player, termed the workhorse of the team by her coach, is none other than Oriana Levasa. She comes from Nanakuli, Hawaii, what we islanders nicknamed “the Wes Side” of Oahu, and attended Kapolei High School. She is taking general studies for now but is pondering a major in the healthcare field.

Levasa is termed a 6-rotational player, which basically is someone who plays the whole game, never rotating out, thus being known as the workhorse of the team.

Asked to describe her aspirations, she replied “YOLO… We only live once.” When asked her to describe her teammates she said, “DEVASTATING … VANDALIZING… SPIKER.” (I interpret that as “DVS,” pronounced “devious”).

In any type of sport at any level, it is said that defense wins championships. Among the Saints’ top defenders is Grace Ormiston. She plays a position called “libero” – for those who don’t know, that’s normally someone who plays in the back of the court where there’s room for digs or pancakes, normally held by one of the best defensive player on the team. In fact, she has totalled nearly 200 digs already this season (through Oct. 20).

Ormiston came to Mt. Hood from Vancouver, Washington, and is in line to earn her associate degree in biology, with a solid 3.5 GPA. Last season Ormiston was voted recipient of the honorable sportsmanship award by the Mt Hood athletic department.

The Saints have their work cut for them, with homecourt matches still coming the next two Friday evenings, Oct. 28 against Umpqua Community College and Nov. 4 against Clark College.

They would love our students’ support!