Edmond North’s volleyball team finished their season at the OSSAA Volleyball State Tournament as state-runnerup. They won their preliminary match against Deer Creek with a score of 3-1. The squad then moved on to the semifinals where they faced Jenks, winning the match 3-2.
The girls won the regional championship which gave them confidence going into the state tournament.
Sophomore Reece Noller said the team’s confidence came from having “the right mindset and (doing) the little things.”
Two of the athletes on the team, Senior Keely Lake and Senior and Team Captain Sydney Dunkleberger, were recognized on the 6A State Tournament All-Tournament Team by the Oklahoma Volleyball Coaches Association.
“Being recognized on the All-Tournament team is a huge honor,” said Dunkleberger, “I was not expecting it because there were a lot of great competitors in the 6A state tournament, so being chosen was super exciting!”
The new head coach, Faith Goodner, significantly boosted the team’s performance, leading them to a podium finish at the state tournament.
Even though the team dominated, Goodner said that the team was “less focused on immediate success and more focused on playing our best volleyball at the end of the season.”
Although it is Goodner’s first year as the head of the volleyball team’s coaching staff, she has had a significant impact on the team’s attitude.
Sophomore Emma Perkins called Goodner the “rock that she and the team stick by.”
“It’s her first (season) with us as head coach, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her knowledge and love of the game,” Perkins reflected.
The coaches are critical in the development of the team, and the players benefit from their hard work.
“Faith and Josie (Assistant Coach Josie Thomas) do a great job preparing us each day. They come in ready with scout reports and areas of improvement,” Dunkleberger said.
The relationship between the players and the coaches is just one of the components of building a great team, but relationships within the team itself are crucial to its success.
Dunkleberger said, “This team is special, and we have such a great bond that goes beyond the volleyball court!”
All the girls on the team recognize the importance of those bonds.
“I think everyone has improved individually in their skill as well as improving together as a team in our game and mentalities,” explains Perkins.
Dunkleberger said she is “super proud of the team” because of how hard they’ve fought all season.
“We’ve been overlooked since day one and we will continue to prove everyone wrong,” Dunkleberger remarked.
After an amazing year, everyone is excited to see what the team will do in their off-season and how they will pursue their next state title.
