After slow start, Knights cruise past Eagles

With only four returning players, varsity volleyball using preseason to establish rapport, communication

August 21, 2023

Senior middle blocker Cate Thoden extends to successfully block an Akins player from tipping the ball over the net during the varsity Knights straight-set sweep of the host Eagles last Tuesday night. “[This game was] more of just a mind game, [to see] if we can keep our rhythm going and not just slow down because the other team might be slow,” Thoden said. “You have to expect the unexpected at all times. You’ve got to push through.”

After prevailing in a close first set, 25-19 to open a non-district road test against 6A Akins last Tuesday night, the varsity volleyball team found another gear to win sets two and three more decisively—25-13 and 25-8—to complete a straight-set sweep of the Eagles.

Sophomore Lexi Rosenblatt said she thinks they worked very well as a team.

”We’re doing pretty well,” she said. “We still have four of us left over [from last year’s varsity team], and we’re doing everything we can.”

Head coach Amy Brodbeck agreed with that assessment.

“We are a fairly new team and are still working on our communication,” Coach Brodbeck said. “Playing against Akins, our communication finally came together.”

Rosenblatt said she feels the team will excel in district play again this season.

“We’re getting together very well, and I think we’ll be able to dominate in district just like last year.”

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We are a fairly new team and are still working on our communication. Playing against Akins, our communication finally came together.

— head coach Amy Brodbeck

Thoden feels that although the Knights easily defeated their opponents, the game still taught the team to keep their eyes on the ball.

“We play Akins every year,” Thoden said. “They aren’t the best team. Our district isn’t the best, so we play a lot of bad teams. Even if you’re playing a bad team, you can still make a bunch of mistakes. So [this game was] more of just a mind game, [to see] if we can keep our rhythm going and not just slow down because the other team might be slow. You have to expect the unexpected at all times. You’ve got to push through. Even though you know [the other team] might not be the best, you just gotta keep going.”

The Akins victory was the Knights third official game of the season, and their second-to-last non-district game. The team has also played in two preseason tournaments with a third on the horizon this upcoming weekend. Before that, however, the Knights will play their last non-district game 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday against the Highlanders at St. Andrew’s.

—with reporting by Lanie Sepehri, Julia Copas and Dave Winter