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POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

PREP INSIDER: Lyncs volleyball team ready for run at state title

The Lynden Christian volleyball team's long road to the state tournament last season was still fresh in their minds as they celebrated winning the Class 1A Northwest District title and an automatic trip to the Yakima SunDome by sweeping King's on Saturday, Oct. 31.

That experience last year, playing through five loser-out matches at the district level and then turning the state tourney's bracketologists on their heads by coming away with a fourth place trophy, isn't likely to leave them anytime soon.

Learning last season that anything is possible at state might just be the reminder and motivation the Lyncs need this week as they begin their quest for the program's first state championship. The Class 1A state tournament begins on Thursday, Nov. 12.

"Our biggest thing has just been 'let's get to state because anything can happen once we get there,'" Lynden Christian junior Kendra Gross said after defeating King's. "Last year was pretty stressful. This feels so much better than playing five loser-out matches."

That Lynden Christian might be playing its best volleyball of the season at exactly the right time also has to have the Lyncs excited. In the last two weeks they've knocked off the top ranked Class 2A team in state in Burlington-Edison and followed that up by beating King's which was ranked No. 1 in Class 1A heading into last week's showdown.

"I still think our team has more potential," Gross said. "I always expect us to play LC ball and if we can do that good things happen."

Despite starting the season with a roster full of talent and high expectations, Lynden Christian still had some question marks to deal with. The team had to make some adjustments to its starting lineup and its rotation for senior standout Andrea Vicic, who transferred in from Canada and needed playing time. There were also those lingering concerns about how well a team starting mostly juniors and a couple of sophomores would handle the pressures of being a state title contender. It didn't take long to put those to rest.

"We struggled at first just gelling as a team and moving on the court," Lynden Christian coach Kim Grycel said. "And really we're still young out there. We're mostly juniors with a few seniors and a few sophomores. I just think we've really come together. I'm so proud of these girls."

Even the not-so-good moments on the court have helped make the Lyncs better this season. When Lynden Christian picked up its only loss of the regular season to cross-town rival Lynden in four games on Oct. 22, it ended up being more beneficial than detrimental to the team.

After the loss Grycel implored her team to get more aggressive with its attack and start swinging away. That loss and the renewed focus that came out of it helped the Lyncs claim a share of the Northwest Conference crown a week later.

"I've loved the challenges we've faced this season," senior Nicole Steiger said after the King's match. "Playing some of the top teams has been good for us."

Of course, unlike last season when the Lyncs entered the state tournament as a serious underdog, this time around Lynden Christian will likely be wearing the target. State title or not the Lyncs will be looking for their 12th consecutive state volleyball trophy and 13th overall.

The Class 1A state tournament bracket comes out on Sunday, Nov. 8 on the WIAA Web site.

"After that Lynden match, I told the girls they had nothing to lose against Burlington-Edison," Grycel said. "I told them the same thing when we played King's which was undefeated and the defending state champions. I told them let's go out and play. I feel like that pressure that was on us at first this season is off now. Let's just play."