HS Volleyball Stop: New school Palisades off to a fast start, knocks off powerhouse
It is usual for a new school to struggle their first couple of years in athletics. For the Palisades Pumas volleyball team, this has not been a fallback excuse as they boast an 11-4 record and are coming off a win over the Ardrey Kell Knights three sets to two after losing to the Knights earlier in the season.
“I think it was more of a mental block for us,” Head Coach Kristen Zabalavicius said. “We know they are such a powerhouse and have such a traditionally strong program. So, I think the first time we saw them, my girls had more of a mental block than anything.”
The challenge that coach Zabalavicius was facing was getting the girls to understand that they could beat the Knights and that there wasn’t any pressure on them. Everyone knows the tradition of Ardrey Kell, so there is no pressure on her squad.
“I knew that we had the ability to compete with them, if not beat them,” Zabalavicius added. “I just wanted to make sure that my girls did. I knew that being so young and the program not having any seniors, I somehow needed to get through mentally with them if we were going to be successful.”
This game was back-and-forth all game as Palisades won the first set, Ardrey Kell won the second, and so on until it came down to the fifth and final set.
“The fifth set is always scary for a coach,” remarked Zabalavicius. “It is so fast. If you get down it is really hard to come back in that short amount of time. My biggest thing as a coach, especially in the fifth set is, first to five (points) is so important.”
In moments like this, it is crucial that a team has key players that they can rely on to keep the team grounded in their process and make sure the team doesn’t get rattled by the hype of the moment. Coach Zabalavicius had high praise for a few of her girls that played well during the match.
“Charlie (Meadoweal) was playing fantastic,” exclaimed coach Zabalavicius. “She is our leader out there. Even the girls that don’t put the ball away a whole lot were really on. We made very few mistakes Thursday night.”
A few mistakes are what it takes to knock off a powerhouse team. Coach Zabalavicius has her team in a great spot to make a push for the SoMeck4A conference crown.
Matches to Watch
Wednesday 9/28
▪ The Providence Panthers will face the Cox Mill Chargers in a non-conference bout. Cox Mill is still on the bubble and would likely find a place in the Observer’s Sweet 16 with a win.
▪ Watauga sitting at 12-1 will face the Ashe County Huskies who are unbeaten with a 9-0 record. Watauga looks to solidify their spot in the top 3 of the Observer Sweet 16 with a win.
The Observer’s Sweet 16 Poll
Rk. School Rec. Class Prvs.
1. North Iredell 18-0 3A 1
2. Watauga 12-1 4A 3
3. Ardrey Kell 14-3 4A 2
4. West Rowan 13-3 3A 5
5. Hough 13-2 4A 6
6. Marvin Ridge 15-5 4A 4
7. East Rowan 14-2 3A 7
8. Kings Mountain 16-2 3A 9
9. Fred T. Foard 11-3 3A 8
10. Sun Valley 15-1 4A 11
11. Charlotte Catholic 10-3 4A 10
12. Mallard Creek 10-4 4A 13
13. Lake Norman 11-5 4A 14
14. South Rowan 12-3 3A 15
15. Palisades 11-4 4A NR
16. Providence 11-5 4A 16
Dropped Out: Cannon School (10-5)
On the Bubble: Cox Mill (11-4), West Stanly (10-5), Cannon School (10-5), East Mecklenburg (12-5-2), Myers Park (10-6)