LC volleyball’s success a product of system
Lynden Christian’s volleyball team has become a staple of the Class 1A State Tournament. For 19 consecutive years, the Lyncs have made it to the state tournament.
It wasn’t until last season, though, LC finally took home a title, followed by district and bi-district titles this season, giving this year’s state tournament a bit of a different feel.
“There is a target on our backs. We’ve tried to make an effort about not talking about repeating,” LC (15-2) coach Kim Grycel said in a phone interview. “We’re focused on minimizing our errors to be the best we can be. We can’t control how the other team is going to play.”
Even more impressive to LC’s success this season — and over the past two decades — is how the Lyncs have been able to replace key parts of great teams with youthful talent.
All the girls have really come a long way since the beginning of the season. To show them what the LC program is has been a lot of fun
LC senior setter Carli Tjoelker
Madison Weg, Morgan VanKooten and Emily Veening all played big roles in last year’s success and all are now graduated.
“I would say all of my new players have just really shown so much improvement this season,” Grycel said. “We’re excited to show how far these youngsters have come.”
Those new weapons that will be displayed at the Class 1A State Tournament on Friday, Nov. 13, include junior hitter Hannah Rusnak, who has taken a much bigger role this season, junior libero Emmalee Bailey, sophomore hitter Avery Dykstra and freshmen Kelsie Otter and Torina Hommes.
For the freshmen, making the leap from middle school volleyball to the state tournament in just eight months can be daunting, but Lynden Christian benefits from great senior leaders in outside hitter Kara Bajema and setter Carli Tjoelker.
The leadership combined with the Lyncs’ practice model of often including junior varsity and C-teams in the varsity training allows everyone to be on the same page from year to year, Grycel said.
As a captain, Tjoelker has enjoyed the model that’s allowed the Lyncs to have so much sustained success.
“It’s been really exciting to start with that leadership and see all the players grow,” Tjoelker said in a phone interview. “All the girls have really come a long way since the beginning of the season. To show them what the LC program is has been a lot of fun.”
The Lyncs are feeling confident in how they’ve been playing heading into state, where they’ll first face 17-1 Montesano.
Repeating as champions is a difficult task, but one thing is near certain:
Lynden Christian will be back.
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 7:30 AM with the headline "LC volleyball’s success a product of system."