Chemistry, commitment secret to Mead’s success

First of all, consider the recent numbers put up by the Mead High School volleyball team: three straight Class 4A state championships, with an overall record during those seasons of 97 wins and four losses. The Panthers were 33-0 this season, and won 102 of 105 games in those matches.

During Coach Judy Kight’s 16 seasons at Mead, the Panthers have been to state 10 times, with four championships, three third places, a fourth and a fifth. They’ve won six regional titles in 11 years, and Kight’s overall record is 386-125. Mead has won the Greater Spokane League championship five times and the district title five times. (If anyone needs proof that the GSL is a tough league, they should consider that the Panthers have won the league only once more under Kight than they’ve won at State.)

So while this isn’t a story about Kight, one cannot ignore the fact that during her tenure the Panthers have progressed from an excellent high school volleyball program to an elite one. If she’s a couple titles short of having created a dynasty, she can certainly see that possibility from here.

Talk to her about what made this group of eight seniors – five three-year varsity players and three two-year – so special, though, and she relates an almost out-of-body experience from this year’s regional tournament.

Senior setter Amy Herron had just been injured and for a moment there were a few big eyes on the court and many more in the bleachers.

“You just can’t lose your quarterback like that,” said Kight. “She makes our offense go. But Megan Thigpen pulled the others off to the side and told everybody not to freak out, just to concentrate on making perfect passes” to sophomore substitute Karyn Mockel, who performed admirably for the rest of the tournament.

“It was absolutely amazing for me to sit on the side and watch,” Kight said. “How many teams have that sort of leadership and confidence? Even though it was stressful for me, it was a joy to experience. Their character was just so evident, you could see how much this meant to them.”

Herron worked hard in physical therapy after the regional victory, and returned to set from the back row at the state tournament, at least until match point.

“I kept her in the front row at match,” said Kight, “because I wanted her there when we won. I knew she wouldn’t get a block or anything, because she’s only 5-5. But what happened? The ball comes right at her, and she ends it with a block. Injured, and 5-5.”

Besides Thigpen and Herron, Mead’s other seniors this season were Cassie Dobson, Mara Ryan, Nicole Solum, Erin Norris, Jessica Stebbins and Kaitlyn Farley.

Kight is quick to credit her coaching staff for the consistency which contributes to Mead’s success. She and assistants Shawn and Heather Wilson, Jill Fetcho and Tessa Hodgson have been together for a decade, which underscores Kight’s belief that, at Mead, “we get the whole relationship thing.”

And then she talks about team dynamics.

“All three (of the championship teams) have had a combination of great skill, ball control and knowledge of how to play the game. But lots of other teams have that stuff, and so team chemistry makes a difference. I’ve had teams here with loads of talent that just weren’t willing to connect on the court, to trust each other enough.

“But these girls made a commitment that would they would work together on and off the court, that they’d respect each other. They’ve worked so hard, allowing me to push ‘em and push ‘em. Some teams won’t accept that. Every coach has had teams like that.”

Kight’s not quite ready to consider the challenges that lie ahead of her, although she knows they’ll be there.

“Right now, I’m still there with this group. I’m not thinking about next year yet. What we’ve had here in the last three years just doesn’t happen.”

Still, she knows that there’s more talent in the pipeline, and a hunger in Mead’s younger athletes to win the school’s fifth title.

That hunger resides in Kight as well, who after all this time describes herself as “over-the-top passionate about this sport and about the kids. I’m always excited to get into the gym. I’m always sad to see any season end.”