Hadley Carpenter, head coach of the Welches Schools girls’ volleyball team,
can relate to the student athletes who can’t get a serve over the net. She was
there once, in the same situation and even in the same gym, as Carpenter
began her journey in volleyball as a Welches student.

“I stayed after practice every day so mad at myself because I couldn't get the
underhand (serve) from halfway on the court,” Carpenter said. “It’s fun to see

the progression that they make and it’s interesting for me to think back that I
was the same way. I had never played before, just like these girls.”

Carpenter, who grew up on the Mountain and attended the Welches Schools
from 2011-13, went on to play at Sandy High School, while also playing club
level volleyball. She then went to Mt. Hood Community College to get an
associate’s degree, and now works as an educational assistant at Welches
Schools.

She started coaching during the coronavirus pandemic, which offered some
challenges such as organizing carpools, no parents or fans inside during
games (games could be viewed online), only traveling close by and not
shaking hands with opponents. That led to a surprising development this year,
as the team can finally travel together by bus to their away games.
“I couldn’t figure out why the girls were so excited about the buses on the
first day when we were talking; they had to carpool the last two years,”
Carpenter said. “It’s nice to just be able to get on a bus and go.”

“It’s exciting that the parents get to come and we get to interact with them,”
she added.

This season also brings a familiar face to the sidelines, with Becky Fortune
serving as her assistant coach. That’s a turnabout for Carpenter, as Fortune
was her coach during her years on the team.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Fortune said. “It’s just so cool to know that somebody
I coached liked it enough to come back.”

Both coaches noted that they focus on the basics of the game, while seeing
the team as a great way for students on the Mountain to make some friends
and have an activity to do after school. But their efforts are also resulting in
continued enjoyment of the sport, with four Welches Schools graduates
playing on the Sandy High School team.

“I’m like a proud parent, I think,” she added. “I’m just so glad she’s back and
doing this. It’s a great connection with the girls. To come full circle and now
be sharing that again is pretty cool.”

The current program at Welches Schools features 16 girls, including two sixth
graders, on two teams, one varsity and one junior varsity. The team typically
plays one home game each week, with the season ending on Wednesday, Oct.
19. The schedule of games can be found on the school’s website,
https://www.oregontrailschools.com/Domain/16.