VOLLEYBALL: KW’s Genger chooses Boise State

By Erick Walker • March 18, 2009 9:43 pm

Basketball or volleyball?

Volleyball or basketball?

Kentwood senior Jessie Genger has gone back and forth on which she will play in college for more than a year now. Tuesday night, Genger made it official: Volleyball will be her sport of choice and she will play at Boise State University next fall.

“It has been so up in the air,” said Genger, a 5-foot-11 middle and outside hitter who can nearly jump out of the gym. “It’s really hard and I’ve been kind of putting off making the decision because I love both sports. What Boise State had to offer is what I wanted.”

What Genger will receive at Boise State is a scholarship that will cover three years of schooling. Boise State won out over Lewis & Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho, Western Washington University and Colorado State among others.

“I went on a trip there the day after we won the state championship (in basketball),” she said. “I fell in love with the campus and the area.”

At Kentwood, Genger helped the Conquerors earn four straight state berths on the volleyball court. She was named the South Puget Sound League North Division’s co-MVP with teammate Lauren Campbell. It was the second time Genger has earned that honor. Kentwood finished seventh, fourth, third and fourth at state the last four years. In addition, the Conquerors also won four straight division titles with Genger leading the way.

“Jessie was the first kid at Kentwood, maybe in our league, who got MVP as a middle hitter and the following year as an outside hitter,” said Kentwood coach Bil Caillier. “That’s pretty remarkable. We’ll miss her a lot.”

Genger has been nearly as successful on the basketball court, where she earned first-team all-SPSL North accolades in each of the last two years. This past winter, she averaged 13.9 points per game and helped the Conquerors win their first state title.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m not playing basketball,” she said. “I am really excited that I can go on to Boise and play volleyball, but I am going to miss basketball. It couldn’t have ended on better note.”