Bucholtz to play college volleyball at Oregon Tech

SANDPOINT - From playing on the "C" team as a freshman, to making varsity midway through her junior season, to starting on a state championship team as a senior, it's been a great ride for Sandpoint senior volleyball player Adrianna Bucholtz.

The 5-11 middle blocker has only played four years of competitive volleyball, but she progressed enough in that time to earn the chance to play another four years, deciding before the season started to play volleyball at Oregon Tech, an acedemically acclaimed NAIA school in Klamath Falls.

"I haven't had all those extra years of volleyball like some of the other girls, I started late," said Bucholtz. "I'm excited to have those extra four years."

Bucholtz made an unofficial trip to Oregon Tech this summer, and immediately fell in love with the school, as well as the city. She plans to major in medicine at Tech, which was named as one of the top 10 baccalaureate colleges in the West.

"I heard they had a great medical program, then I heard they had a good volleyball program," explained Bucholtz, who practiced with the team on her visit before the coach asked afterward if she wanted to sign. "It's in Oregon, where I really wanted to go, and it reminds me a lot of Sandpoint. I love it."

Sandpoint head coach Karen Alsager said the Owls of the Cascade Conference plan to play Bucholtz at right side, calling both the conference and the college a good fit for Bucholtz.

"She's a hard worker," described Alsager, who believes Bucholtz's best volleyball is still ahead of her. "They had her out for a trip and they liked what they saw."