THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: With a mix of old and new, Lakeland out to prove itself again at state

There's the lanky lefty hitter who delivers punishing spikes to the floor — but is just as excited to see her teammates do the same.

There's the libero who would have even gaudier passing stats — if only the other team would give her a chance.

There's the setter who keeps all the hitters happy, and does her best to keep the team pumped up.

And there's the woman in charge — part coach, part friend — who knows how to get the team motivated, but also knows when to lighten the mood.

This is your Lakeland Hawks volleyball team, a blend of old and new, which experienced its first taste of success in more than a decade last year, and a team that's coming back for more this year.

"It's been a bumpy road," third-year Lakeland head coach Kelsie Badger said of this coronavirus-affected season. "Moscow in (the 4A Inland Empire League), Moscow out. Who we could play because of COVID, who we couldn’t. That was different, but we were excited about this year. Our girls want to prove themselves, the seniors for sure."

LAST SEASON, Lakeland qualified for state for the first time since 2005, and played at state for only the second time since moving up to 4A from 3A in 2004.

The Hawks placed fourth at state last year, their first trophy since 1991.

"Last year, just thinking of state was very intimidating … we’re going to get down there, and there’s going to be 7-foot girls going against us," said senior setter Abbey Neff, a three-year starter. "And we went there and it was like, 'We can compete with these teams. It’s all about mentality."

"It’s not as intimidating as I thought, and we can play with these girls," said senior libero Olivia Cooper, a three-year starter. "And I think we have a chance of winning state."

One big reason is Katy Ryan, the 6-foot-5 senior right side hitter and Washington State commit.

Earlier this year, Ryan was named to the USA Volleyball Women's Junior National Training Team, with a chance to compete for a spot on Team USA.

"Katy has had an outstanding senior year, and she is proving that every game we play," Badger said. "Abbey and Olivia Cooper and even Jozee Russell coming to the team this year, our seniors are just really shining."

Russell was one of many to step up this season, as have returnees Addisen Kiefer and Bethany Johnson, both juniors, and sophomores Kenna Simon and Ellie Carlson.

Last year, much of Lakeland's offense ran through Ryan and outside hitter Daphne Carroll. This year Carroll, a senior who attends an online school, chose not to turn out for volleyball, instead focusing on graduating early.

With Carroll gone, the other Hawks have picked up the offensive slack by committee.

"I think we became more as a team," Badger said. "Because I think we relied a lot on Daphne; now, we have spread that out. Everyone is taking that ownership. In a way, that has helped us grow, and not solely rely only on Katy or only on Daphne, but on everyone else. Abbey sets Jozee a lot, she sets Katy a lot, sets our middles a lot. Last year it was a lot of Katy and a lot of Daphne. And so I think we’ve grown as a team."

"A lot of volleyball is mentality," said Neff, who hopes to play in college next year. "Daphne was great, and we love Daphne, but just keeping our positive mentality … we have a great group of girls that are positive and strong, and we can work together through any adversity, and we did that this season."

A STRONG volleyball team usually has a strong libero, and Lakeland has that in Cooper, who is undecided about playing in college next year.

"Olivia Cooper is by far the best passer in our league; there isn’t very many balls she doesn’t get to, and there’s not very many balls where she doesn’t have a great pass," Badger said. "A lot of people don’t serve her because she’s such a great passer. We know we’re going to get a good pass from her, so we can run our offense and control the tempo of the game. She’s just lights-out — her hustle, her work ethic. She’s just phenomenal."

Says Cooper: "They stopped serving to me. It makes me really frustrated."

Before becoming Lakeland's head coach, Badger was the Hawks' junior varsity coach for two seasons, and the "C" team coach the year before that.

"She is the best coach ever," Neff said. "Most of the time it’s not like she’s even the coach; she’s our best friend."

"She is funny when she needs to be, and stern when she needs to be," Cooper said.

"Today in the huddle (before the regional championship match with Sandpoint last week), Abbey was being all serious, giving the intense talk," Ryan said. "And then there was music playing and Kelsie just came in and started dancing and singing. She knows how to lift us up, and how to get on us when we need to pick it up."

"They want to win as much as I do," said Badger, who played at Freeman High.

Like most all teams, Lakeland has been impacted by COVID this season, so the Hawks are not taking anything for granted as they head to state this Friday and Saturday at Kimberly High.

Lakeland's 10-6 record won't open many eyes, but all six of those losses came to 5A schools, including three to Coeur d'Alene, which is headed to state this week as the Region 1 champion. And the Hawks split a pair of matches with 5A IEL champion Post Falls, and also took two of three matches with 5A Lewiston.

"The start of (the season) was so uncertain," Ryan said. "I think we were all really nervous that everything was going to shut down and we weren’t going to get a season. It actually helped a little bit, because we thought every single game could be our last game; that helped us play better, reminded us that every game counts. You never know which game’s your last. It kinda boosted us, even though it was kinda scary."

"I’m really appreciative that we made it this far," Cooper added. "I honestly didn’t think we were going to make it this far, but I’m really glad that we have."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.