Model of consistency

Bryson City – It took Kadey Phillips just 130 matches to carve out 100 career wins.

The clincher was a 4-set Robbinsville Lady Knights triumph at Swain County on Tuesday. Playing their first Smoky Mountain Conference match in 12 days, the Knights remained unblemished in the division with a 25-17, 22-25, 25-17, 25-12 win over the Lady Devils.

“The past five years that I have been coaching, there have been a lot of ‘firsts’ for the Robbinsville volleyball program: first Smoky Mountain Conference champions, multiple conference-tournament champions, first Elite 8 of the state playoffs,” Phillips said.

“But none of that would be possible without the girls coming in and putting in the work, each and every day. I also have tremendous help with my assistant coach (Dede Brooms), and all the other coaches and people who have been involved in the program also.”

Since taking over the reins in 2017, Phillips has recorded a 100-30 mark (a 76.9-percent winning percentage) and despite the constant 4-year cycle of high-school athletes – which leads to inevitable turnover – none of the teams she has coached have ever had double-digit losses in a single season.

Perhaps her greatest achievement – so far – came with the 2019 campaign. As Phillips alluded to, Robbinsville went 25-3, won the Smoky Mountain Conference title and tournament, and advanced to the Elite 8 of the 1A state playoffs – all “firsts” for the Knights.

And while it may be true that roster depth is slightly down this year, the next generation of superstars have taken notice of the Lady Knights’ success – and they want in.

Just a few years ago, Robbinsville could not find enough athletes to participate in youth volleyball.

This year? Robbinsville fields two teams; Snowbird comprises a third one.

“When I first began coaching, my goal was to instill the love of volleyball to my athletes, and also to our community and school,” coach Phillips admitted. “In the past, I feel like volleyball was a sport within the community that was easily overlooked. Now, I feel as though the success of our program over the past few years has earned the respect that the girls – and the sport – deserves.”

Robbinsville (12-4, 5-0) certainly had to earn the landmark win for its coach. Swain County (10-6, 2-3) had a raucous atmosphere throughout the showdown and the Devils gladly fed off the support.

Set one raced to a 12-12 stalemate, but the Knights promptly went on a 13-5 run to close out the win. Swain prevailed in a tight second segment, but Robbinsville would not be denied in set three. Ahead 16-9, the Lady Knights held off a quick rally bid by the Lady Devils and thanks to some sharp kills down the stretch off outside hitter Delaney Brooms, Robbinsville pulled back ahead in the match.

From there, the outcome was inevitable. Swain County was unable to even make a threat in set four and anytime the Devils tried, blocks from middle hitters Claire Barlow and Aubrie Wachacha swiftly denied their efforts.

Coach Phillips’ milestone was especially noteworthy for her younger sister, Kensley. A senior outside hitter – and a back-row defensive threat, as well – Kensley has grown up around the sport, watching Kadey play for the Lady Knights herself before coming under familiar tutelage when Kensley suited up as a varsity freshman during that memorable 2019 season.

“I always loved Kadey being my coach, because I have always looked up to her,” Kensley said Tuesday night. “So, when she decided to coach, I was super excited to get into high school to play for her.

“Every big win, she’s always the first person I go to, because it feels like the win isn’t just for us, but for her also. We have been waiting for weeks to get to 100 and have fought super hard lately. Before tonight, it truly felt like we were playing not just for us, but for her to get this – because she deserved it.”

And in what may be the most fitting note of the evening, the person at the service line when the match – and Kadey’s 100th win – was clinched?

Who else? Her sister, Kensley.

Wild Mustangs

Robbinsville – The week did not start off any easier for the Knights.

Coming off a 4-set loss in Sylva on Sept. 19, Smoky Mountain paid a visit just seven days later to Graham County and was out for revenge. They almost had it, too.

But in yet another unintentional first for coach Phillips, Robbinsville unbelievably battled back from a 2-0 deficit and tamed the Mustangs in a 5-set thriller: 25-23, 27-25, 14-25, 22-25, 11-15.

Smoky Mountain (7-11) raced to a 6-0 advantage to begin the match, but the Mustangs lead was soon trimmed to 13-11 by the Knights. Robbinsville later chased down the deficit to just 24-23, but a powerful kill from Smoky Mountain’s Chandler Jerome spoiled the effort.

The Lady Knights finally secured their first lead of the match off a Liz Carpenter kill early in set two, but despite some excellent defensive reads up front by Brooms, the segment was another seesaw battle – eventually chalked up to Smoky Mountain on another Jerome kill.

All the Mustangs really did in their 2-0 bid was awake a sleeping monster. On the heels of defeat, Robbinsville emerged from the locker room with renewed vigor and sprinted to an 11-3 advantage. Reeling, Smoky Mountain simply could not defend hot shots from Brooms, Kensley Phillips and Wachacha and soon enough, set three went to the Knights.

The Knights punched the ticket to their first 5-set match of the year off a huge Barlow block on the final volley of set four. With momentum now firmly in the Knights’ corner, the outcome was inevitable when set five dawned – but Wachacha later delivered a shot that the Mustangs could not handle to ensure the victory anyhow.

Robbinsville is in the midst of a 5-match winning streak, but the immediate slate does not get any easier. The Knights will close out the road portion of its conference schedule by traveling to Cherokee (10-6, 3-2) today and Murphy (11-3, 3-2) on Tuesday. Both hosting programs will be looking to knock Robbinsville off the top of the conference standings and make things interesting in the divisional race down the stretch.

But when you step back and look at the bigger picture, the Lady Knights are competing with swagger at the moment.

And for good reason. Brooms and Phillips are providing powerful kills up front. Barlow and Wachacha have emerged as middle threats, while right-side hitter Carpenter is getting better looks on returns than ever before. Libero Suri Watty is proving her service and defensive worth, as is senior Tai Owle.

Plus, where would the offense be without first-year setter – and senior – Desta Trammell, who continues to wow onlookers with her quick adaptation to the sport and ability to provide the passes necessary for success.

“We have played great this week; two very hard-fought games,” coach Phillips noted. “I think both of these games have shown how well we can pull together as a team,” Phillips noted. “If they come together and pull out a win like they did last night (against Smoky Mountain), they can do just about anything.”

JV, middle school

Robbinsville (5-9) dropped a pair of junior-varsity contests this week: a 25-19, 25-16 tilt with Smoky Mountain and a 9-25, 25-27 loss to Swain County on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the middle-school Lady Knights improved to 4-3 by defeating Swain 25-22, 25-13.