Griesbach To Finish In Style At All-State Volleyball Series

It's the highlight of her volleyball career, and the end of it.

Nicole Griesbach bids competitive volleyball goodbye in grand fashion, playing in the Dairy Farmers of Washington East/West All-State series tomorrow at North Central High School in Spokane and Saturday at Fife. The player from Seattle Prep is a member of the West Class AAA/AA team that squares off with the East AAA/AA squad at 7 p.m. both days. The A/B games start at 5 p.m.

"I'm really excited," Griesbach said. "I'm looking at it as a totally fun experience."

And one she almost didn't get the opportunity to try. Originally, Griesbach was an alternate on the West squad. Ironically, she got the chance to play when another Metro League standout, Blanchet's Holly Millard, declined to participate. Griesbach jumped at the invitation.

"I was like, `Yes, yes, please!'," she said.

But she said, "No, thanks," to the possibility of playing volleyball in college, ultimately deciding to become a student at the University of Washington.

"As much as I love it (volleyball), I'm ready to be done," said Griesbach, a 5-foot-10 middle hitter. "I don't want to take it any higher."

She's been around the game for as long as she can remember. Her mom, Cheryl, coached volleyball at Holy Rosary School.

"I used to hang out at their practices and I just kind of picked it up," Griesbach said. "Finally, I got to the age where I could play."

When she arrived a Seattle Prep as a ninth-grader, Griesbach made the junior varsity. That's when she got serious about the game.

"My freshman year I said, `I want to do this better,' " she said.

She moved up to the varsity as a sophomore and has been a full-time starter the past two years, helping the Panthers become a state-tournament regular.

Griesbach, who has a 3.4 grade-point average at Prep, is considering a career in physical therapy. She works as a lifeguard, which she admits is fun.

Although she doesn't plan to play volleyball competitively again, Griesbach doesn't think she's totally done with the game she adores. She said she probably will play intramurals.

"I'm just not interested in playing NCAA Division I," she said. "I don't think I'm that hard core. But I do love it."

-- Thursday's schedule - Class A/B game, 5 p.m.; Class AA/AAA game, 7 p.m. (North Central High, Spokane).

-- Saturday's schedule - Class A/B game, 5 p.m.; Class AA/AAA game, 7 p.m. (Fife H.S).

WEST AA/AAA - Michelle Parker, Auburn; Dori Bartusch, Bethel; Donja Walker, Bethel; Lisa Bruggenthies, Sehome; Denae Mohlman, Shorecrest; Emily Eggers, Kamiak; Sandy Aerand, Puyallup; Tara Wofford, Capital; Erica Henry, Olympia; Nohe Ka, Kennedy; Lisa Fryer, Sequim; Nicole Griesbach, Seattle Prep. Coaches - Tom Muckerheide, Kennedy; John Reopelle, Bethel.

WEST A/B - Stacey Schmitz, Montesano; Angela Burgess, Foster; Mandi Cody, Woodland; Becky Cooper, Woodland; Erin Alvord, Meridian; Melissa Olivarez, Meridian; Meghon Perry, Toutle Lake; Cara Smith, Lopez Island; Sunny Porter, Willapa Valley; Abbie Pierce, Wishkah Valley; Deborah Sangel, Clallam Bay. Coaches - Debbie Gibson, Montesano; Susy Liebert, La Conner.

EAST AA/AAA - Lindsi Weber, Selah; Alison Gargus, West Valley (Yakima); Paige Quistad, Colville; Nanette Allen, Pasco; Eileen Gamache, Davis; Johanna Erlebach, Walla Walla; Jaime Christensen, Rogers (Spokane); Darcy Ruemping, Ferris; Sarah Menard, North Central; Shannon Snow, Lewis & Clark; Story Tombari, Gonzaga Prep. Coaches - Missy Bennett, Colville; Judy Kight, Mead.

EAST A/B - Lanae Jeske, Odessa; Janelle Allen, Wilbur-Creston; Megan Wellsandt, Ritzville; Talia Brewer, Wahluke; Jana Huston, NW Christian; Sally Palmer, Tekoa-Oakesdale; Angie Hall, Colfax; Tracy Tribbett, Colfax; Lindsay Thiele, Colfax; Kate Antolich, Kiona-Benton; Shauna Erickson, Columbia; Alicia Jones, Ritzville. Coaches - Katie Damon, NW Christian; Steve Yocom, Kittitas.