Sports

Bottineau graduate set to play volleyball at DCB in 2012

By Tyler Ohmann

01/17/2012

Bottineau senior Ashleigh Aufforth has decided she will continue playing volleyball into college and that it will be at Dakota College at Bottineau.

Aufforth knew she wasn’t done, even immediately after the Stars season ended in a region title loss to Kenmare.

“When our season ended at the region tournament, I just didn’t feel like I was done yet,” Aufforth said. “I wanted that win, and I’m just not ready to hang up the knee pads.”

Last week Keysor and the college announced Aufforth will be joining the Ladyjacks in 2012.

“Ashleigh will be a great addition to our team as a setter,” Keysor stated in a press release. “Her hard work, dedication and knowledge of the game will help the Ladyjacks continue to build off the strong finish they had in the Region XIII tourney.”

The Ladyjacks shuffled a few different setters this season, unable to find one that suited their style of play. They hope Aufforth can provide that.

Aufforth knows it is going to be like a whole new game.

“It is going to be so different,” Aufforth said. “The setting is different. You don’t set as high, there are different kinds of sets all around the court, and it’s going to be much faster pace. It is going to be fun though.”

Aufforth set a school record for Bottineau this past fall in her senior campaign by dishing out 824 set-assists.
Aufforth has several reasons for choosing DCB.

“I think DCB is the place you need to go if you’re not sure what you’re going into yet,” Aufforth said. “I know I’m going to play here. I didn’t want to be done and I wanted to go to the place where I’d get the most playing time.”

“Ken’s a good coach, and there are girls coming back that I know,” Aufforth added.

One of those girls is Jackie Miller, who is from nearby Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood high school, a team Bottineau plays every season. Aufforth remembers the first time that she played against Miller as a sophomore.

“I remember my sophomore year in Mohall, and the girls were like ‘watch out for Jackie Miller, she’s a good hitter,’” Aufforth recalled. “I didn’t really know her until we played her, and I was like ‘wow she’s a good hitter.’”
“I don’t know if she knew of me, but I’m still going to have that background when I play with her,” Aufforth continued.

However, Aufforth is excited for the opportunity to set for new teammates.

“I’m excited because there are tall girls that I think are going to be fun to set for,” Aufforth said. “They can hit the ball and it will be fun to watch my sets be used for something good.”

Aufforth also was extended interest from Lake Region State and visited Concordia, but decided to turn them down and stay close to home.

“It was just too big, and I didn’t want to be that far away from home yet,” Aufforth said. “To be close to home and just go get my gen(eral) eds was a good choice for me.”

Aufforth was a two-year team captain, a two-time all-district player and was all-region this past season.

She also tallied more than 1,000 set-assists in her three years as a BHS setter.