Lady Rebels learn and grow at Cowley Tourney

The Lady Riverside Rebels went into this tournament with their head held high and left the same way. They didn’t pick up a win, but they used their experience as a learning tool and came out on top mentally stronger for it.

Coach Nikki Hopkin answered questions regarding her team this weekend. They are as follows:

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE WEEKEND WENT?

We felt like the weekend went very well, even though the scoreboard may not reflect it.

Many of our returning players are stepping into new roles and playing different positions than they did last season, while our freshman are working hard to learn their positions, our system, and how to play with new teammates. The girls worked hard individually and as a team, and we saw growth in each match. They were willing to learn, make adjustments, and encourage one another, which was exciting to see.

AS FAR AS A LEARNING EXPEREINCE, HOW DID THE GIRLS WORK TOGETHER, GET THEIR SYSTEM DOWN, AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS?

We tried different rotations and combinations throughout the weekend, working to put each player in a position where she could make us better as a whole. We focused on communication, trusting one another, and making adjustments as situations changed. We are still working on consistency and getting our system down, but each match gave us another opportunity to learn and improve.

WHAT ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKEND?

Kaydee Brown led us with aces, while Evalynn Olsen, Cachelynn Forshee, and Hadley Hopkin each had 2. Forshee led our defense with 19 digs, followed by Hannah Suiter with 10, Brown with 6, and Hopkin with 5.

Offensively, Hopkin led us with 5 kills, Forshee and Suiter had 3 each, and Brown added 2.

We are excited to watch this group continue to work hard, learn from each experience and lift one another up. There is a lot of potential in this group, and we are excited to see where their hard work and commitment take them this season.