Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Lauren Harshman, Chinook Volleyball

Tennis season is a long way off, but Chinook's Lauren Harshman is having a big impact on the volleyball court

The Chinook Sugarbeeters have been a powerhouse in a girls sport in every season. In the fall, it's volleyball. In the winter it's basketball and in the spring, it's tennis. And Chinook's Lauren Harshman is a big part of two of those powerhouse programs.

Right now, Harshman is in the middle of Chinook's front line as a middle blocker on the volleyball court. And she knows what success feels like there. A three-year varsity standout for the Beeters, Harshman hasn't tasted defeat in a District 6C East match in the regular season in two years now. And that's why she, and the rest of the Beeters are highly confident heading into this week's 6C East tournament.

But, Harshman doesn't just make her presence felt on the volleyball court. She's part of a dominant Chinook tennis program, one that captured its second straight Class B-C state championship last spring. An outstanding doubles player, Harshman is part of an incredible tennis legacy in Chinook.

However, spring is a long way off, and Harshman is all about volleyball right now. And her and her Chinook teammates are all about successfully defending their 6C East title this week in Rudyard. Harshman and the Beeters go into the tourney with a 14-0 record and are heavy favorites to walk out of Rudyard Friday night as district champions for the third straight season.

Here are five questions with one of Chinook's many, multi-sport talents as she and the Beeters get ready for the district tourney.

HDN: You guys went undefeated again this season. What has worked so well?

Harshman: "We have a lot of experience. We returned a lot of starters. We only lost three girls from last year's team. And we mesh really well together as a team. We just trust and believe in each other."

HDN: What do you love the most about volleyball?

Harshman: "I love how intense it is. It's a really intense, exciting sport. The crowd is always really fired up, and it's just a lot of fun to play an intense sport like volleyball."

HDN: Volleyball teams have a lot of traditions. Doing cheers or chants after you win a point is one of them. Do you have a favorite?

Harshman: Our coach really doesn't like the chanting too much (laughing). So when we win a big point, or get an ace, or anything like that, we just all scream as loud as we can."

HDN: You are an excellent tennis player. Which sport do you prefer?

Harshman: "Tennis. Because I grew up in tennis. My sister was a good player, and my family played, too. It's just always been a big part of my family."

HDN: Chinook has dominated the 6C East lately. But you guys want to go a lot farther than just winning the district tournament. How do you feel going into the postseason?

Harshman: "We definitely want to win the district championship. But we want to win divisonals, too, and go to state. We've played some of the teams that we would see in our division. So I think we're a lot more prepared and ready this year."