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Posts Tagged ‘volleyball’

McKayla Bailey (John Fisken photos)

   McKayla Bailey keeps a laser-focus on the ball, while ignoring that every fiber of her being screams for her to stop and smile for the camera. (John Fisken photos)

Kyla Briscoe keeps her eye on the ball.

  Kyla Briscoe may only be a freshman, but she’s already making a name for herself.

Katrina

Katrina McGranahan is lookin’ professional. Must be the shoes.

Sydney Autio

   Sydney Autio takes a break between performing her duties as a setter to claim Bailey’s missed photo op.

Summer was officially rained out today.

The sudden, somewhat unexpected deluge that threatened to wash away chunks of Whidbey Island was a less-than-subtle reminder that fall approaches.

And, while we’ll probably still have some more sunny days, another reminder of the changing seasons is playing out in gyms and on practice fields.

We’re three days away from the first Coupeville High School football game, four away from the first official action for the Wolf spikers.

Seeing as how I have extra photos from recent volleyball practices, that’s what you’re getting today.

Apparently football players aren’t as photogenic.

They’ll get their moment. Right now, it’s all about the spikers, who, thanks to the wonders of a gym roof, did NOT get soaked this afternoon.

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Senior outside hitter Madeline Strasburg is one of four returning letter winners. (John Fisken photos)

   Senior outside hitter Madeline Strasburg is one of four returning letter winners. (John Fisken photos)

Junior McKenzie Bailey is part of a promising group of younger players making the jump to the varsity squad.

    Junior McKenzie Bailey is part of a promising group of younger players likely to make the jump to the varsity squad.

New Wolf coach Breanne Smedley.

New Wolf coach Breanne Smedley.

One day at a time.

That’s the mantra for first-year Coupeville High School volleyball coach Breanne Smedley, as she guides the Wolf program into a new age.

Having replaced former CHS player-turned-coach Kirsty Croghan, who had to step aside after a single season when her commute from La Conner proved to be too much, Smedley has inherited a roster full of breakout stars.

Now, the goal is to bring those players, and their teammates, together into a cohesive unit.

“I always ask my players at the end of practice, are you a better volleyball player and teammate now than when you started practice?,” Smedley said. “If they can honestly answer yes to that question then we will be successful this season.

“My goal is to finish at the top of our league but we will only get there if we are working to improve one day at a time.”

As Coupeville heads into a new league, having jumped from the 1A/2A Cascade Conference to the 1A Olympic League — a four-team set-up that includes Klahowya, Chimacum and Port Townsend — Smedley and her players want to take advantage.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to compete against schools of similar size to Coupeville,” Smedley said.

Four returning letter winners form the core of the Wolves, with senior outside hitters Kacie Kiel and Madeline Strasburg being joined by senior middle blocker Hailey Hammer and junior setter Sydney Autio.

Others expected to have a big impact include seniors McKayla Bailey and Monica Vidoni, junior McKenzie Bailey and sophomores Tiffany Briscoe and Valen Trujillo.

Regardless of which players end up playing where, or how the rotation shakes out, Smedley likes what she’s seen in her first official week of practice.

There’s always room for improvement, but the Wolves are putting in the hard work and sweat now that should hopefully translate into success come match time.

“There some growing pains associated with learning new systems and information, but they are doing a great job of working through those,” Smedley said. “This team is very hard working and they have the desire to learn and improve.”

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Hailey Hammer

  Hailey Hammer (front) is not puttin’ up with your shenanigans. At all. (Photo courtesy Linda Hammer)

Hammer tunes up for her final year as a Wolf. (John Fisken photo)

    Hammer tunes up for her final year as a Wolf. The smile is back. (John Fisken photo)

Hailey Hammer is generally in a good mood.

The Coupeville High School senior, a three-sport star since the first day she stepped foot into the school, is pretty easy-going and laid-back. She tends to smile, a lot.

But not in this early photo, where she is about one step from taking the camera away and wrapping it around the paparazzi’s head.

Good thing she’s chilled out since then.

These days, as she prepares for one final run through her sports (volleyball, basketball, softball) at CHS, Hammer has her smile back.

The only ones frowning will be opponents as they get crunched by the power-hittin’ Wolf wonder.

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By day she's Madeline Strasburg. Come game time, she transforms into Maddie Big Time. (John Fisken photos)

  By day she’s mild-mannered Madeline Strasburg. Come game time, she transforms into a superhero known as Maddie Big Time. (John Fisken photos)

Kacie Kiel locks in on the ball with flawless form.

Kacie Kiel locks in on the ball with flawless form.

Jae LeVine

Jae LeVine’s love for the game is evident.

McKayla Bailey's love of a good photo op is also evident.

McKayla Bailey’s love of a good photo op is also evident.

Sydney Autio punishes the volleyball.

Sydney Autio punishes the volleyball.

Monica Vidoni is part of a strong group of Wolf seniors.

Monica Vidoni is part of a strong group of Wolf seniors.

Freshman Kayla Rose

Freshman Kayla Rose keeps her eyes locked on the ball.

Kiel

While Kiel sends us out with a smile that lights up the gym by itself.

Spike season is upon us.

Volleyball is back, as the Coupeville High School squad made its first appearance Monday, running through drills under the eye of first-year coach Breanne Smedley.

From veterans, like seniors Kacie Kiel and Hailey Hammer, to young guns, like freshmen Katrina McGranahan and Kayla Rose, there was excitement in the air.

And, once the cameraman showed up, a willingness to embrace the photo op as only this group of happy-go-lucky young women can.

The first time this group is accused of being shy will be … yeah, never gonna happen.

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Kacie Kiel (right) teams up with Breeanna Messner last season. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Kacie Kiel (right) teams up with Breeanna Messner last season. (Shelli Trumbull photos)

A small chapter of the Kacie Kiel Fan Club.

A small chapter of the Kacie Kiel Fan Club.

The irrepressible one herself.

The irrepressible one herself.

No one lights up a room like Kacie Kiel.

The Coupeville High School senior (and yes, it’s sort of odd to think of her as a senior) plays both of her sports — volleyball and basketball — with wild abandon, skill and, always, great joy.

Even when she’s getting conked on the head by defenders, or finds herself under fire, she’s usually sporting a smile.

Quick to pick up her teammates with a word, a high five or a quiet hug while (briefly) sitting on the bench, she radiates energy wherever she goes.

Now, as she and her Wolf teammates prepare for the start of practice Monday, Kacie was kind enough to offer some insight into what’s going through her brain at the moment.

Her thoughts as the start of her final chapter of her high school sports career approaches:

Being a senior all I want to do is go out with a bang!

And with the new league coming our way, I am looking forward to showing other schools what Coupeville is made of!

With practice starting I am hoping that this year will be full of victories and lessons! Our new coach (Breanne Smedley) is making volleyball a blast already!

I’m hoping though to get the position I want, which is to become an outside hitter and use my strength there and with passing.

I also am dreaming to become a captain and take leadership to help this team become a dream team.

My one last dream for the season is to make it to state, and I know we’d have to work harder then we ever have before but anything is possible!

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