Charlo's Kelley ready for return

Jenna Cederberg

CHARLO - When Jaris Kelley's right hand slammed into the back of her teammate's shoe after a backcourt dive, the fiery junior hitter's season took a turn for the worse.

"Right away I grabbed my hand. I looked at my teammate and said, 'I think I broke my hand," Kelley said.

She ignored the pain for the rest of the match and played out the September tournament, getting through by keeping ice on the area. For the next several weeks, she had head coach Sheryl Kain tape her hand, finally a school trainer told her she had to go get X-rays.

Kelley's thumb had stretched back enough to tear several tendons and a splint wasn't going to heal it. The good news was that is wasn't broken, and her doctors predicted the cast would only be on for a month.

Her right wrist and thumb have been in a Viking spirit-inspired purple cast since Oct. 8. On Monday the team got some good news, a turn for the better, when the cast came off and Jaris was cleared to play.

She practiced with the team on Monday.

"It felt good," Kelley said. "My wrist is a little weak and a little sore."

The mood was different a week ago, when Kelley wasn't sure if she'd be back for the post season.

"It's very depressing because I'm one of the main players," Kelley said. "It feels like I let them down. I know I didn't because it's not my fault."

Kelley will resume her duties as an outside hitter and defensive specialist for the team in its first game at districts at 2 p.m. on Friday in St. Regis.

Kain said her absence as a starter in both spots hurt the team.

"She's one of my other hitters and we don't have her as a hitting force and she's very strong, it might not always go where she wants it to go, but it comes hard and fast at you. She's just a very strong hitter. I miss her passing ability and I think the team does too, when she's in the back row," Kain said.

But Kain can also talk a lot about how Kelley's continued support has helped the very successful team.

"She still wears the uniform and still goes out there, she want stay with them and be a part of the team," Kain said. "She probably yells louder than I do and more than I do. She cheers them on and she gets frustrated when they get frustrated, and is happy when someone does good."

Kelley has continued to support the team and share in the emotion of the matches. Still, she has taken the injury hard. She's been on the bench for the team's wins, but like any competitor, feels the sting worst when the she sees the team losing. The Vikings only lost one conference game this season, to Hot Springs on Oct. 13.

"That was a downer, really bad," Kelley said. "I just wanted to get up and leave because I couldn't stand it."

It was times like that when Kelley said she almost didn't want to keep near the court. She said her mom, who Kelley calls 'a hero,' has had to talk her into keeping her chin up.

The motherly words of wisdom and confidence boosters helped Kelley to refocus, and look to the team's future.

"I hope we go far, I do believe in our team" she said, also noting that she's got next season to compete as well. "That's the best part - I'll be senior next year."

Kain also noted that the majority of the team's starters are juniors, and will return next year.

"It's hard to replaced a player, there's games when you just notice you're missing somebody, something. I think if you ask any one around the conference, they would want her. Because of her hustle and her drive," Kain said.

Kain said the team relied on various players to fill Kelley's spot on the court. She said the freshmen hitting is developing. Freshman Kinley Pope has stepped up in several matches for the Vikings.

Kelley said she was proud of the underclassman for showing true Viking colors in their play. For the district tournament this weekend, Kelley will tape her wrist for matches. She's "stoked" to be back no matter what.

Hot Springs clinched the top spot in the District 10-C conference. The Vikings go in at No. 2. The district tournament begins on Nov. 7 in St. Regis.