The season has been filled with drama, more happening to the Owl volleyball players than because of them, but now, they are ready to change that in sectional play.
From Olivia Fish to Lauren Knieriem, from Cali Cummings to Maggie Connell to Addi Lemon, Seymour is focused on today’s 6 p.m. opening match against New Albany in the Jennings County Sectional.
“We’re hoping for a great, great sectional,” coach Angie Lucas said. “We have to play great to get through this. We’re probably better than we have been all season.”
Jennings County, Floyd Central, Jeffersonville and Providence also are in the sectional.
The Owls began the season with a two-week quarantine because of the coronavirus and spent considerable time working into top form but now feel as if they can take on anyone.
“I cannot wait,” Fish said. “It has been a roller coaster. Time to play.”
If Seymour wins Thursday, the team advances to the semifinals Saturday morning with a champion being crowned Saturday night in North Vernon.
Knieriem, who said her parents were volleyball coaches when she was young and has been around the game her whole life, is a spiritual leader of the team, emphasizing the subtleties of the game.
“I think my best quality I bring to a team is my energy,” the senior said.
Knieriem is the one who boosts everyone, who is the resident cheerleader, who recognizes energy can almost be a tangible quality.
“The team that has the best energy wins,” she said.
One aspect of volleyball that expresses itself more than in some other sports is momentum. Points seem to feed upon points and add up swiftly.
“It’s a game of runs,” Knieriem said. “It’s the most important thing in volleyball.”
Fish agrees completely.
“Momentum, it is huge,” she said. “That is the game.”
A team falling behind 7-1 or the like can become demoralized, Fish said. The score can play with players’ heads. It’s “Oh my gosh? How are we going to get back from this?’”
The flip side is equally as important, to gain that momentum.
“You get that and it changes the game,” Fish said. “It’s crazy.”
To reach a record of 15-15 seemed to take a monumental effort for the Owls. They have been ill, and they have been injured, and now, they are hungry and believe this can be their time to shine.
“All our injured and sick players are all back,” Knieriem said.