Continuing to stand tall
As far as sports dynasties go, Mead volleyball has become to Spokane what the New York Yankees are to baseball.
Of course, the Panthers don’t have a payroll of $194 million like the Yankees. They just have experience and raw talent year upon year.
Mead has seen a large amount of success in the last decade, especially the last three years. The three-time defending district, regional and state champions were ranked ninth in the nation at the end of last season.
“It’s an honor to play for Mead,” junior setter and co-team captain Karyn Mockel said. “I love getting pumped up and playing in front of the big crowds we always have.”
There are many dynamics that make the Mead program a winning machine.
A large factor is the high-caliber players that feed into the program – most of whom are club players and have been so since before they were teenagers.
“The kids come in to most (Greater Spokane League) schools nowadays already having really quality experience playing,” coach Judy Kight said. “I feel like I get the best kids. I always have a great group of girls that are just really committed and we just make it work each year.”
Among those players is senior Kady Try, a transfer from Liberty High School in Brentwood, Calif. Try played on the state runner-up team last season.
Mead has a definite height advantage in the GSL. With seven athletes 5-foot-10 or taller, the Panthers typically have no problem shutting teams down at the net.
Those tall players include sisters Emma and Alexis Olgard.
At 6-4, Alexis, a freshman, towers over most opponents and is one of the top middle hitters in the league. Sister Emma, a junior, is 6-3.
“Alexis has raw talent,” Kight said. “She’s just incredible all around. She works really hard, loves competition and just has the world in front of her in terms of volleyball.
“Emma is determined to make herself a great player and that is exactly what she has done.”
The team’s other senior is co-captain Ashley Hutchinson. The 6-0 outside hitter is a two-time state champion and is considering Washington State or Portland State for college. Hutchinson said she will take her four years at Mead with her always.
“The whole experience has just been amazing,” Hutchinson said. “We’re like one big family. There isn’t one player who is the whole team. We all work so well together.”
If they are a family, Kight is the mother of the group.
Kight has been the Panthers’ head coach for 16 years, taking three years off from 1990-93 to start her family.
Under Kight, Mead is 392-126, including last year’s undefeated season and four losses in the two years prior.
Speculation suggested this year would be a rebuilding year for the Panthers. So far it hasn’t.
The Panthers are 6-0 in the GSL. Their only loss was a five-game thriller to league opponent Lewis and Clark in a non-league match early in the season at LC. The teams meet again on Oct. 17 at Mead.
It isn’t that the Panthers are unbeatable – the Tigers proved that early on. But they are extremely deep on the bench, making it tough for teams to get past them in matches.
“We like to make sure everyone is involved in the offense,” Kight said. “Every player plays in pretty much every match so they all get the experience.”
After losing all six starters last year the Panthers felt they had something to prove this season – that they could still dominate.
Kight said her team has adjusted well to the pressure to win.
“We love that everyone thinks it’s their turn to beat us now,” Kight said. “It just motivates us and makes us think, ‘Why don’t we prove them wrong and see what we can do?’ “