LC’s Bajema signs with UW to play volleyball, selected All-NWC MVP

The Bajema household has had plenty to celebrate in last week.

On the same day that Kara Bajema helped lead the Lynden Christian volleyball team to a repeat Class 1A state title at the Yakima Valley SunDome, the University of Washington on Saturday, Nov. 14, announced in a press release that the senior outside hitter had signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Huskies beginning next season.

And if that weren’t enough, Bajema was informed the Northwest Conference coaches had selected her All-NWC Most Valuable Player.

Bajema certainly deserved all the accolades.

“Kara has the size, athleticism, and arm strength to be a point scorer for us in the Pac-12,” UW coach Keegan Cook said in a press release. “You don’t find players like that in Washington every year. As she continues to improve as a serve-receive passer and defender, it’s not a matter of if she can become a threat for us but how soon.

“Her maturity as a student-athlete also makes me believe that she is prepared for the challenge ahead. Kara has tremendous potential to improve rapidly. We cannot wait to have Kara in the gym to see how much she can learn.”

Signing with the Huskies before she and her Lyncs teammates left for Yakima was the culmination of a dream for Bajema.

“As I learned more about different schools, the Pac-12 interested me and it was close to home,” she said in the release. “The coaching staff at UW was amazing, and all the players were extremely welcoming. Washington has a beautiful campus, a strong academic reputation, and is in a great city which makes it all the more inviting. I could tell that the volleyball program was more than just a team, but a family, and I can’t wait to experience it.”

She’s definitely coming from a team with that strong family feeling, as she and the Lyncs have compiled a 38-4 record the past two seasons.

In Yakima, the Lyncs swept through the first two round of the state tournament, before having to battle back from down 2-1 against Kalama in the semifinals. LC completed its quest for back-to-back titles with a three-set win over Bothell Cedar Park Christian in the final.

Bajema wasn’t the only Lyncs team member honored by the NWC coaches.

Kim Grycel was selected co-coach of the year along with Tawnya Brewer, who led Burlington-Edison to the 2A state title.

Lynden Christian senior setter Carli Tjoelker and junior outside hitter Hannah Rusnak also were selected first-team All-NWC.

Ferndale, which picked up its first 3A State Tournament win since 1992, had three players selected to the first team — senior middle blocker Taryn Potter, junior outside hitter Whitney Walker and junior middle blocker Rose Compton.

Burlington-Edison senior outside hitter Alana Handy and senior middle blocker Carly Watson and Anacortes senior outside hitter Karly Richardson rounded out the first team.

Whatcom County players selected to the second team were: Sehome’s Emily Greer, Bellingham’s Summer Douglas and Sophia Lawrence, Nooksack Valley’s Katrina Gimmaka and Lynden’s Maddie Kramme.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 8:16 PM with the headline "LC’s Bajema signs with UW to play volleyball, selected All-NWC MVP."