Palmer grad shows height is not everything

While at Palmer High School no one argued against Jessie Macknicki's talents on the volleyball court. Despite her 5-foot, 5-inch frame, Macknicki was arguably the most intimidating outside hitter in the state, with the power on her hits, during her senior campaign.

But at 5-5, Macknicki's height caused some schools at the upper levels of college volleyball to shy away and she chose junior college Southwestern Oregon Community College. And her height, combined with her speed, had a role in SOCC head coach John Speasl's to move Macknicki to another position.

Now Macknicki is back at her old position and showing, despite her height, she can still have success.

After spending time as a defensive specialist on the Laker squad, Macknicki was moved back to the front row and her outside hitter position. She responded by scoring 17 kills in a key region battle against Chemetka Community College, one of the top teams in the Northwestern Athletic Association for Community Colleges, and led the Lakers to a win. The following week Macknicki was named the NWACC volleyball player of the week.

Macknicki showed, with her 17 kills against Chemetka, she can have success at the college level, despite being tabbed as short.

"She's gone up against bigger kids most of her life," Speasl said. "This is more of the same for her."

At 5-5, Macknicki has used a little creativity and added to her game, rather than using just the extreme power she displayed with the Moose.

"The block is bigger, but I seem to be doing fine," Macknicki said. "Sometimes I have to switch up my shot. I see the block and hit around it."

Rather than relying on power, Speasl said, Macknicki now uses creativity and her intelligence to find open holes in the opponents' zone.

"She's one of those pragmatic kids," Speasl said. "She's going to do what works. Holy moly, that kid's got a lot of talent."

Overall Macknicki's transition to the college game has been smooth.

"It's been easier than I thought it would be," Macknicki said. "I thought college was going to be a lot harder."

Macknicki said in addition to the obvious change -- bigger blockers to battle --she has had to adjust to faster sets and longer rallys.

Macknicki was used early in the season as a defensive specialist and at the libero, a back-court position. Speasl said he wanted to take advantage of Macknicki's skill on the dig.

"You can't put a stat together for the kind of digs she makes," Speasl said. "She goes down on a dig and in so many cases it was a ball that was ungettable for anyone else but Jessie Macknicki."

But as the Lakers struggled to find a successful rotation, Speasl moved Macknicki back up front to mix things up.

"We needed her savvy up front," Speasl said.

And that is where Macknicki remains. On a young Laker squad dominated by freshmen, Macknicki is moving to the head of the class, averaging 2.68 kills per game. And Speasl expects Macknicki to be a big part of the junior college's success in the next two seasons.

"If we had 10 Jessie Macknicki's we'd probably be undefeated right now," Speasl said.