Lady Kodiaks volleyball begins work toward fall season

Leavenworth residents or visitors who jog or walk near Icicle River Middle School on certain mornings may notice a couple of volleyball nets set up in the grass, with athletes on both sides serving, passing and spiking a ball.

These athletes make up a portion of the Cascade High volleyball team 2019 roster and are playing a few scrimmages and other drills. These outdoor practices are just one way the Lady Kodiak are gearing up for the 2019 season.

Cascade ended 2018 with a 7-2 conference record and a second-place finish in the conference standings. The team also lost eight starting seniors from graduation, leaving many open positions for the upcoming season.

During a July 2 grass volleyball practice, athletes split into two five-player teams and played back-to-back sets, before entering another match scenario where they rotated servers and defenders. The team ended practice with another set.

The sets were similar to a live game, only the score went to 15 points instead of 25, players acted as their own officials and there were no spectators, other than the occasional bird zipping past the net. 

Despite playing outdoors, the team displayed solid offense and defense, as well as communicating with one another, whether it was reading the hitters or providing encouragement to one another. 

While playing volleyball outdoors is a slower pace of play compared to competing on a court, Savannah Akers, one of the returning Lady Kodiak players, said the summer practices and workouts have gone well so far for the team.

Akers explained the grass scrimmage provide athletes an opportunity to take more time in developing and refining their skills. The outdoor scrimmage also allows for communication between teammates without interruptions.

In addition to the outdoor practices, the Lady Kodiaks have morning workouts three days a week. Cascade also competed in the High School Volleyball Tournament Camp at Central Washington University tournament from June 115-16. The team will attend two additional camps, as well as play games against local teams, such as a July 10 grass volleyball match against cross-town rivals Cashmere.

Although the summer workouts and practices have helped the Lady Kodiaks refine their skills, player Emma Kampen-Parker said the time has also helped bring the team closer  before the season starts.

Kampen-Parker also feels the summer will set the pace for a solid 2019 season for the Lady Kodiaks.

“People say this is a going to be a gap year, but I think it’s going to be a good one,” she added.