LYNNWOOD
The Lynnwood volleyball team has all the right ingredients for a successful season.
Strong leaders. Good team chemistry. Confidence in each other.
“I have a great team,” said head coach Jean Kellogg. “I feel very good about this year’s team.”
Especially with senior Kaytlyn Dill, a Seattle University recruit, back on the front line. Dill has started since her freshman season and was a leader from the start. Dill, who is six feet tall, has a vertical leap of 27 inches.
“She’s a great player both defensively and offensively,” Kellogg said. “Kaytlyn is really rising into that competitive leadership role.”
Kellogg is moving the first-team, all-league standout from the middle to the outside. The switch was prompted by the solid play of sophomore Jessica Barlow and junior Annie Ogle.
The setting will be done by senior Stephanie Mohoric and junior Marissa Gamm. Another player Kellogg is relying on is senior Gabby Vo, who along with Dill are the team’s co-captains.
“(Gabby) and Kaytlyn are the core of our team as far as leadership under pressure,” Kellogg said.
Junior Kelsey McCartney, who earned honorable mention, all-league recognition, is another returning player with varsity experience along with junior libero Katie Thurston.
The Royals, along with the other three Edmonds District teams, got their first taste of the 2007 at last Saturday’s district jamboree.
What Lynnwood needs to work on the most is its mental game, Dill said. “I know we have the fundamentals down. It’s just going for it in the game and going all out.
“We have the experience. It’s just now bringing everyone together, so we can play at the same level and give it all we’ve got.”
Vo wants to see a little more on-the-court communication between the players.
“We’re pretty solid,” Vo added. “I think we’re just trying to get over the jitters. We have a lot of first-year players.”
Kellogg’s high expectations for the Royals are based not only on skills she sees in her players but the intangibles.
“This is the most selfless, unselfish team,” she said. “These guys place team before themselves.”
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