Lady Knights relying on leadership for success
* Robbinsville volleyball season preview
Robbinsville – Losing six seniors presents a daunting task.
Though Lady Knights volleyball head coach Kadey Phillips has some hard-hitting experience up front – senior Kensley Phillips and junior Delaney Brooms – and touts five seniors overall, Robbinsville has an interesting dilemma ahead of the 2022 slate: great, seasoned athletes, but limited varsity exposure.
“They should be strong,” coach Phillips said of her elder outside hitters. “Kensley and Delaney both know what to expect. They know how we run things. They’re doing a great job bringing the newer ones in and being good leaders on the floor – helping the others step up like they need to.”
Filling in the gaps left behind by the departing class are senior Desta Trammell, who has received the nod for setter; a formidable trio of hitters in sophomores Claire Barlow and Liz Carpenter, as well as junior Aubrie Wachacha; senior Tai Owle, who is stepping in as the team’s libero; and two returning seniors, Abbi Sawyer – who missed her junior season due to a knee injury – and Fala Welch, who is recovering from a knee injury of her own and looks to figure in to the later part of the campaign.
“Desta is doing really well; I think she’ll bring a lot to the table,” coach Phillips said. “She’s never set before, but she’s doing a phenomenal job and fills that spot perfectly.”
Since taking over as head coach in 2017, coach Phillips has guided Robbinsville to an 88-26 record.
The Knights have remained above .500 each of her five seasons at the helm and have clinched a playoff berth during four of those years.
Last year, Robbinsville posted a 20-4 record, won its second-straight Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament and reached the second round of the 1A postseason.
Pre-season scrimmages at Smoky Mountain, North Henderson and Draughn – as well as an unblemished run through a camp at the University of Tennessee – has given coach Phillips a chance to look at the best options for the road ahead.
“With two returning starters, we’re kind of back at the drawing board,” coach Phillips said. “I think we have a lot of good athletes, with a lot of potential.
“This is definitely the lowest year I’ve had, as far as numbers go. It’s an adjustment. I feel like everyone else (in the conference) is in the same boat, so it will be evenly matched across the board. It’ll be a tight season.”
Robbinsville opens its season Monday at Hiwassee Dam. The home opener is Tuesday against Asheville Christian Academy.