The King’s volleyball team’s heavy hitters, senior co-captains Bianca Rowland and Kailey Trautmann, hope to lead the Knights back to state to contend for the Class 1A title.
“It’s our big goal to win state this year,” Trautmann said.
“I’ve seen tons of improvement in the offseason,” she said. “We have a lot of competition for the starting six spots. It makes our team better because they’re all competing for a spot.”
Rowland, a University of Washington verbal commit, and Trautmann, a first-team all-state selection are possibly the best tandem in the state in 1A.
The Knights had Sara Mosiman, the state’s 2A most valuable player, at outside hitter along with Trautmann for two years. King’s coach Steve Bain believes Trautmann and Rowland as seniors are even better.
“We’ve never had a team with two outside hitters like them,” he said.
The rest of the team isn’t too shabby either. Sophomore setter Anna Cesari was impressive as a freshman, and despite a bruised patella, she should be ready to go soon. Senior Heather Westbrook is another solid setter. Junior Meagan Foote has moved up from junior varsity to fill the libero spot on defense. A trio of middle blockers, junior Jordan Irish, senior Erin Bremond and senior Kimi Dame give the Knights depth at that position.
“We have a decent front line,” Bain said. “We have kids that can block.”
Defense is a strength for the Knights, Trautmann said.
“Our team is big on relentless pursuit,” she said. “There’s never a ball that hits the floor without someone’s body going after it.”
King’s has won the last three Cascade Conference championships and last two district titles.
“We expect to win our league,” Trautmann said. “But we can never walk into anyone’s gym without taking it seriously.”
Bain said he’s optimistic because the Knights had a “great offseason,” with players participating in camps and club volleyball. The Knights finished second at a tournament at Western Washington University this summer.
“We had one of the better summers we’ve had,” he said. “We got a bunch of gym rats. They love to play volleyball and they’re fun to coach.”
The Knights graduated several key players including libero Andrea Uvence, defensive specialist Hannah Mason and outside hitter/middle blocker Kim Mayhle.
But the talent level has barely dropped off for the Knights.
“We’ve been able to generate tradition,” said Bain, who is in his fifth year. “We have a lot of good players in the program. It’s exciting to build that foundation.”
Rowland’s scholarship to UW, one of the nation’s top programs, was another boost to King’s volleyball.
“I think it will create some visibility for the program ,” Bain said. “Certainly for Bianca it’s a great achievement. I think they see what her athletic ability is, she’s a good fit for their system and I think she’ll be successful there.”
“When she walked into our gym for the first time and hit a volleyball she was outside hitter because she had a Division I arm,” Bain said. “At that level (what) separates the Division II from Division I is a big-time arm. She can just put the ball away.”
When it comes time for state, the Knights hope to ride the arms of Rowland and Trautmann to a title.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
