Sequim High's Haleigh Harrison, center, finishes signing her National Letter of Intent to play at Western Washington University on nov. 16. With her are high school coach Jennie Webber Heilman, left, and assistant coach Brittany Langston. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

She's there in the middle of cheers, or celebrations after another big win, and some people can get a smile out of her.

But on the court, Haleigh Harrison is more or less focused on the task at hand: What are the other team's tendencies? Where is the attack coming from? Is the outside hitter left-handed? What about the setter? 

"Some people say I need to smile more," Harrison says, with a grin and a shrug. "I'm not very outgoing."

Sure, but does that businesslike approach work?

"As long as we play well and achieve our goals," she says, "that's winning."

In her four years at Sequim High, that's translated pretty well into wins. Try two state appearances, and just two points away from state in both her freshman and junior seasons. Try Olympic League Offensive MVP her final season. A league championship. A district championship. A win at state.

And now, try a chance to play at he next level.

Harrison last week signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Western Washington University's Vikings.

Western is one of the region's top teams, ranking No. 17 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's most recent national poll. At 20-3, the Vikings top the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference, just ahead of Western Oregon and Central Washington.

For Harrison, the move to Bellingham seems like a great fit.

"It's a lot like Sequim — that, I like," she says.

Read the full story in the Nov. 21 edition of the Sequim Gazette.