Porter signs with Bellevue

Abbi Porter was looking to play volleyball for a small school with a winning tradition. Coming off their seventh consecutive appearance in the NAIA tournament, Bellevue University was looking to reload with a solid young middle hitter.

"We knew it was a great fit," said Bellevue head coach Trish Siedlik.

Porter signed her letter of intent to attend and play volleyball for the eastern Nebraska school, located outside of Omaha, during a ceremony at Sidney High School on Wednesday. After a successful senior season during which the Red Raiders racked up a 22-11 record,  Porter narrowed her choices to Nebraska Wesleyan, Hastings College and Bellevue.

The latter won out after she toured the campus.

"On my visit there I knew," Porter said. "I like the coach. I like that it's a small school in a big city."

It was the culmination of a hectic recruiting period. Porter did not put herself on notice until late in the process. Her junior year was relatively quiet, recruiting-wise.

"But this year has been a lot at one time," she said.

Her parents are clearly happy, but perhaps a bit relieved that a decision has been made.

"It was a little overwhelming," Carol Porter said of the recruiting process. "But I'm very proud of her. She wasn't ready to be done with volleyball."

Porter is more accustomed to playing big in a smaller community. She dominated along the nylon during her senior season. Porter led the team with an average of 4.1 kills every set. She blocked 90 shots on the year-more than one per set. Savannah Rosenbaum came in second on the team with 63.

"Just that big presence at the net-intimidating the other team," Sidney head coach Sarah Wilson said.

But there was greater depth to Porter as a player than her stature or statistics. When the team needed a dig or an assist, she was willing to chip in. But Wilson also points to Porter's demeanor, which never spiked too high in good times or too low when momentum turned against the Raiders.

"She was a good, steady leader," Wilson explained. "She got along with all the players. She'll be missed."

The Sidney senior has no doubts about her love of this game.

"I've been playing as long as I can remember," she said.

Her appreciation of volleyball indeed runs so deep that she passed up on academic scholarships for the opportunity to continue suiting up.

Porter is an outstanding student. She has not yet decided upon a major, although she is currently leaning toward psychology. Her attention to studies attracted the coaching staff at Bellevue-although they first noticed her on the court.

"We saw Abbi back in July and had her on our radar," coach Siedlik said. "She is a very smart young lady and we are so happy that she chose Bellevue to be her next chapter in her career."

Of course, Porter did not simply base her decision on her campus visit. She had lunch with future teammates. She spoke with other coaches, who vouched for the qualities of Bellevue's coaching staff.

"I heard nothing but good things," she pointed out.

Indications are that Bellevue intends to stake Porter in the middle. She has a training program in place for the summer and reports to campus on August 4. Two a day practices begin shortly afterward.

 Wilson has no doubt she will adapt quickly to the speed of the college game.

"Even during her senior year I noticed more maturity," Sidney's coach observed. "She'll adjust well. I think we'll hear great things."