For the St. Andrew's volleyball team, it has been a record-setting year. The Lions recently won their 15th consecutive game, and they are on pace to easily better the 21-8 mark they recorded in the 2009-10 season. The Lions finished last season with an overall 11-11 record.
In the process, St. Andrew's defeated South Effingham and Islands for the first time in the history of the program.
Yet, third-year head coach Bobbi Mock has toed the line to keep everything in its proper perspective. The Lions have six seniors among their 12 players this season, and they have been counted on for their experience.
It has come down to simply each player doing her job and keeping a low personal profile for the sake of the team.
"We're senior heavy this year," stated Mock. We're playing a tough schedule this year, but the girls have responded.
"The seniors have been leaders, and all the girls have been working together well. They're having a lot of fun, but it's all about them having a role on the team and filling it."
On paper, Mock's philosophy has been supported.
Freshman Khloe Jesswein has made a smooth transition, as she leads the team with 121 kills. Senior Addi Yates has a team-high 144 digs, and fellow senior The Lions have served up 242 aces.
Jesswein has been a huge surprise.
"We can move her all over the court," said Mock about her budding star. "She's not a freshman on the court. She has quietly grown up on the court, and she is playing like a veteran upperclassman."
Other team members are seniors Sydney Mims, Mariol Babcock, Sydney Berkman, and Kaia Reiter; juniors Sara Carr MacDonald, Orly Standing, and Makenna Riley; and sophomore Gracie Dare.
So far, it has been the right mix. Dedication and support have been two integral ingredients to their successful mix. Her players have totally bought into the team concept.
"I don't like to single any players out," noted Mock. "We all support each other well. We don't have any superstars here, but girls come to work every day to do their jobs.
"We constantly preach about no player taking a play off. You can't do that in volleyball to make it work. They have been doing their job with a purpose, and they see what they can accomplish."
Early in the season, Mock began to see her players begin to realize their potential.
"When we were 6-0, the girls began to really believe in themselves," stressed Mock. "It started to hit them that they could go far. From there, they have really taken the lead, and reached a new level of confidence."
In her first year as head coach, Mock's team reached the regionals. This season, she would like to see her current group be among the top four teams in the region to host a playoff game.
From there, a trip to the state tournament doesn't appear to be out of reach.
"We're a small school, but our girls don't want to be overlooked," beamed Mock. "We have beaten some of the bigger and better schools in the area, and we are making our mark.
"We believe we can make a run to the state championship."
PHOTO CREDIT: St. Andrew's School Gray Holmes '25
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