EDMONDS — If there’s one thing Lynnwood coach Jean Kellogg knows for sure about her volleyball players it is that they can roll with the punches.
The Royals already have been tested in ways no one could have anticipated.
Lynnwood is being temporarily evicted from its home gym due to flood damage that occurred in early August.
The Royals had been over at Alderwood Middle School but with the start of school now will be practicing and hosting their games at the old Edmonds-Woodway High School, just about the most distant locale from Lynnwood in the Edmonds School District.
The additional 20-minute commute to the Royals’ new digs has resulted in a loss of practice time.
“Normally we go two and half hours,” Kellogg said. “We feel that if we can get two hours in it’s going to be good and that’s an adjustment for the kids. We feel that it’s more important to get them home at a reasonable time.”
The players and families of the players are rallying together to make the best of a difficult situation.
“We always deal with our adversity quite well,” Kellogg said. “We deal with it as a team. I’m proud of that.”
Parents of players also are doing their part to help the team. Several of them went out and became certified drivers in order to help with the transport of players, Kellogg noted.
Lynnwood senior Megan Swanson is hoping some good will come out of all of these distractions.
“It will just make us stronger,” she said. “We’re all kind of feeling a little bit frustrated but hopefully that will bring us together, working through it.”
Kellogg is uncertain if and when the Royals will be able to return to their own gym. Fans are currently being used in an attempt to dry out the gym.
District officials have estimated that the gym could be ready anywhere from five weeks, which would be the midpoint of the season, to the start of basketball in late November.
One of Kellogg’s concerns is how the move will affect fan support.
“We hope they follow us and that they come down here and that they can find us,” said Kellogg. “This is not an easy place to find if you’ve not been here.”
The address of the old Edmonds-Woodway High School is 23200 100th Ave. W. The school is located at the top of a hill and is not visible from the street.
The Royals’ lineup has undergone some significant changes, most notably with the departures of a pair of key players — Molly Hunsinger and Brittni Thorson.
Somewhat surprisingly, the loss of two all-league standouts appears to be less of a distraction than the team’s gym travails.
“We lost our seniors but we’ve also gained a lot,” senior Julie Nguyen said. “We’ve gained more people who can play different positions … it’s stronger for us because we can go deeper to the bench.”
The varsity roster consists of 11 players and all 11 are solid and more or less equal in ability, Nguyen added.
“You’re only strong as your weakest (link),” she said. “All of us are all strong, so that just build us up.”
The experience level on the varsity team is the highest its ever been in Kellogg’s eight seasons at Lynnwood. Between the varsity and junior varsity squads there are 22 players who have club volleyball experience, an astounding number for Kellogg, who said in the past she felt fortunate to have five such individuals.
“I couldn’t believe 22 kids went out and loved the game to go find it again,” Kellogg said. “I think we have depth to cover our positions and some young talent that is going to turn some heads.”
Lynnwood’s depth has enabled Kellogg to move a few players around. Nguyen shifts from setter to libero/defensive specialist. Swanson, last year’s libero/defensive specialist, is now an outside hitter.
The Royals’ offense is anchored by senior Daylene Wilkie. Two other returning starters are sophomores Heather McCartney and Laura Ingram.
“We’ve got good height this year,” Nguyen said. “They’re quick so that definitely helps us out.”
Whenever Lynnwood ran into trouble last season, it tended to turn to a couple of players, Swanson said. This year will be quite different with the wide array of talent.
“All of the people from our team last year have grown,” Swanson said. “I think we’re going to go father this year. I just feel like we’re a stronger team and we have more people to go to. We all have stepped up a notch in our game.”
Lynnwood has advanced to the state tournament three out of the last four seasons. Last year, the Royals finished eighth overall among Class 3A teams.
“We don’t have our players from last year but I think we’re a stronger team,” Kellogg said. “We’ve got multi-talented kids … We’re not the same team. I think we’re a better team. I think we’re going to surprise a few people.”
Eight players on the 2003 team are back and they are determined to book a return trip to the Everett Events Center, the site of the state tournament.
“I know what it was like to experience state,” Swanson said. “It motivates me to work hard to be there again.”
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