Panthers Finish Volleyball Season With Regional Title

In 1989 when Judy Kight resigned as Mead volleyball coach, the Panthers were Greater Spokane League co-champions and third-place finishers in the State AAA tournament.

Three years after returning to the position, Kight has the Panthers right where she left them.

This year they again placed third in state after sharing second place in the GSL and earning a stunning championship in the regional playoffs.

Kight was quick to defer credit for the team’s success.

“If you could plan and bottle this thing, everybody would be doing it,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of support from a lot of good parents and girls.”

The parents, she said, were exceptionally helpful. They were present at all the matches, put on dinners, sent belief statements, made pins and ribbons for the girls.

“They did everything and anything they could do to help them gain confidence,” said Kight.

Kight took a five-year hiatus from coaching to start a family. Her return in 1994 began a three-year plan that started with five sophomores.

“Three of them are still with us today,” she said. “They were the core of the team.”

Jessica Sanborn became the team’s 6-foot-3 dominant middle hitter and standout all-around player.

Andrea Carnahan was a setter and fine server. Lindsey Miller became a valuable right side attacker.

Last year heady juniors Alisha Simchuk and Cheryl Adams joined the fold. They started this year.

“I will miss them,” said Kight of the five seniors. “They had a vision for building this program, even when times were rough, two or three years ago.”

Three more athletes, including starting setter Kelsey Sturm and hitter, Staci Schuerman, along with Kortney Stewart made the team as sophomores in 1995.

“Kelsey played with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (in her knee) the entire season,” said Kight. “She amazed me. Staci was a rock defensively.”

This year, junior Abby Hornstein made varsity and started.

“Abby was just incredible down the stretch,” said Kight.

Senior Brandie Morrison and juniors Krista Nelson and Beth Prehn were the other new additions to the team.

After tying for second and losing a seeding playoff game to Lewis and Clark, the Panthers wound up third in district with a loss to LC again.

But at regionals they surprised unbeaten league champion Ferris, the school where Kight’s husband Kelly teaches and formerly was an assistant volleyball coach.

“We looked at how we had to get to state,” said Kight. “We had already played Lewis and Clark a couple of times and for some reason couldn’t get past them. So we were highly motivated to get past Ferris.”

That win qualified them for state and victory over Big Nine champion Davis gave them the regional title.

“Historically, as soon as you get done beating up each other, you really believe you can go top four in state,” said Kight. “Thankfully we did.”

After advancing out of pool play with a 2-1 record, Mead lost in the quarterfinals to eventual runnerup Prairie, but won its final three matches, including over Ferris again and finished third.

“It was really, really gratifying to end on a fantastic note,” said Kight. “It was bittersweet when we gave up the match to Prairie, but to end strong and win the next three was really sweet.”

Sophomores Mindy Wallis, Krista Henning, Janelle Edington and juniors Marit Vagstad and Missy Bonnano experienced the playoffs.

Some of them will move to Mount Spokane High when it opens next fall, but because of Mead’s club program, which she and her husband coach, Kight is confident her program will remain strong.

“Because we’ve been so diligent in our club effort and with the kids coming my way we’ll be fine,” she said. “We will be in a good place in volleyball.”

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