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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 9, 2004 Walters transfers to Ashland By JOE ZAVALA For the Mail Tribune The rich just got richer. Jessica Walters, the hard-serving junior outside hitter who led the North Medford High Black Tornado to the Class 4A state playoffs last season, has been cleared by the Oregon Schools Activities Association to play for Ashland High. Walters transferred to AHS immediately after the 2003-04 school year in June and has been waiting for approval ever since. The first-team all-SOC selection in 2003 is expected to join fellow first-team all-SOC junior Lindsey Stone, Sarah Holgen and Maddison Thivierge to give the Grizzlies one of the best starting lineups in the Southern Oregon Conference. "I think what it does is it really just kind of solidifies our right side a lot and kind of gives us an extension of ('03 SOC player-of-the-year) Chelsea Van Lehn — a big banger who can do a lot for us out there," Ashland coach Josh Rohlfing said. Advertisement That may be an understatement. Walters smashed a team-high 151 kills during the 2003 conference season for the Black Tornado — the second-highest SOC total in team history — and added a school-record 57 aces. Most of those aces came on Walters' vicious jump serve, which barely clears the net before taking a hard dive toward the floor. Rohlfing said Walters will play setter and outside hitter for the Grizzlies. She's also a great back row defender, he said. That versatility should help Ashland make up for a lack of height. "Her biggest upside is that she's extremely athletic, and she's going to be able to adjust to whatever we ask of her because her physicality allows her to do things that others can't," Rohlfing said. Walters was one of just three underclassmen to make the all-conference team in 2003, not counting honorable mentions. She was a second-team selection her freshman year. Rohlfing first heard of Walters' possible transfer during the 2003 season, but was skeptical until her family made the move to Ashland. The OSAA cleared Walters to play for the Grizzlies in the third week of July. "It was a pleasant surprise," Rohlfing said. Ashland begins preseason practices Aug. 23 and opens its 2004 season Sept. 2 at the Grants Pass Jamboree. Ashland's first regular season game is Sept. 7 at Roseburg. Joe Zavala is sports editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities