Defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions prepare for title defense
* Robbinsville volleyball season preview
It was a year unlike any other.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights gelled at the right time in 2019, accumulating 25 wins, a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference championship, outright winning the conference tournament and advancing to the Elite 8 of the 1A state playoffs.
The legacy will stand the test of time.
“Without a doubt, we had a phenomenal season last year,” said head coach Kadey Phillips, who returns for her fourth season as Robbinsville’s head coach. “Last season definitely put Robbinsville volleyball on the map. We had more fans and spectators than I have ever seen before.
“I think our community now has more respect for our volleyball program and for the sport as a whole.”
As the 4-year cycle of high school athletics often does, the Lady Knights will now have to fill the void left by the departure of three talented seniors: starting setter Liz Ayers, outside hitter Gracye Burchfield and middle hitter Karlyn Matheson.
The latter was named the conference Player of the Year in 2019, with Ayers receiving an All-Conference nod.
But Phillips is not worried, as Robbinsville is still stocked with skill.
“It is always a shame to lose players, especially those that played such a crucial role to our success,” Phillips noted. “However, I think that we have several returning players that are more than capable of stepping up to fill those roles.
“Yeika Jimenez (a 2019 All-Conference Honorable Mention) will be a force to be reckoned with again this upcoming season. We also have Halee Anderson (also a 2019 All-Conference Honorable Mention), Ivy Odom and Ally Ayers working to fill the setter position for this season.”
Also back from last year are starters Kensley Phillips, Karcee Dooley and Gabby Hooper. Dooley and Hooper are Robbinsville’s two seniors this season and Hooper was All-Conference last season.
“Gabby has been on varsity all four years of her high school career,” Coach Phillips explained. “She was actually the one freshman on the varsity team my very first year coaching at Robbinsville. I knew from that first year coaching that she would be special to this team, and she has proven that over and over again. She has been my starting libero for the past four years.
“Karcee has been on varsity for the past three years and she played an important role last year as a middle hitter and blocker. Karcee’s blocking percentages definitely carried our team through our successes last season.”
Robbinsville begins its season Monday, with a home match against their second-round playoff opponent from last year, Rosman. The 2020-21 season will definitely have a different feel, with limits on spectators (25) and matches (14, or two a week).
Coach Phillips is confident that her Lady Knights will rise to the challenge.
“We are definitely in a season unlike any other,” Coach Phillips said. “We had a great turnout for our summer workouts. Once we received the news that the season would be delayed, that brought in a lot of uncertainty and disappointment.
“However, now that things are finally up and running again, I feel as if the girls are more determined and ready to play than ever before. We are adjusting to all the new rules and regulations, and we will definitely miss all of our fans and our outstanding student section being there to root us on every game.
“But regardless of the circumstances, we are just glad to be playing. Our goals have not changed; we are still after not only the conference championship, but ultimately, a state championship.”