Transcript
With us on coach's corner, KWBG, going to talk some boon volleyball today. Shambray Burke joining us, the Torridors. Ready for post-season, believe it or not, we've hit that part of October where we know the pairings, we know everything that's kind of in front of us. Regular season is basically in our rear view mirror, which is always crazy to say this time of the year. Shambray, I guess let's start with post-season. When you guys first saw the bracket, what did you think? When we first saw it, we were all together. And so that was really exciting. I think when the girls and the team, and we figured out where we were going, we were just ready for another opportunity to be competitive. What's nice is after every game, we're really reflective in thinking, okay, here's where we need to work, here's where we need to push. And so I think this is a really great chance for us to look back at the game we had and go, okay, what do we need to do to make ourselves the most competitive possible? And we've got a really good energy going into the game. So we're looking forward to next week. Let's talk about the last couple of matches, and then maybe we'll look back at Carlisle, because it's been a few weeks since you played the Wildcats last, but we'll start with Des Moines Lincoln, and Senior Knights are always, boy, they're always difficult, not just for parents, I don't think, but I think for coaching staff, because you got a lot of emotions when it comes to the kids, and the kids always have a ton of emotions as well. It was your first one, what'd you think? That energy in the gym is going to be something that I just take with me. It was one of the absolute highlights that I've had from my first season as head coach. I mean, the gym was packed, the energy was electric. It was just, I mean, they played great volleyball. They stayed focused, and it was really hard. It was so special, the seniors out there, and it was really great just to see them before that first set, they all kind of went in and just did a group hug as their first title. And I mean, the parents have been phenomenal, and just, I can't say enough great things about how supportive everyone has been, and just all the special new traditions we added, and just making sure that those seniors really felt celebrated and seen, and just a great night of celebrating the program, and just where we've kind of come this season. And so that is one that I'm going to continuously look back on, because it was just a phenomenal night. Well, you got a big night from Hallie Johnson when it came to distributing the volleyball, something that she does, such a great job all night, all season, I should say, but had 12 assists that night. Ava Johnson had a big night with nine kills, and I just thought those were a couple I wanted to talk about first. But tell me about Hallie, because this is a girl that has to distribute the volleyball. You got to find the hitter that's hot, and when she is hot, I got to keep getting her to the volleyball. Hallie does a really, really nice job doing that. So I have nothing but the highest praise to give her this season. She has stepped up in a role that she didn't see coming. And so the discipline and the extra reps and everything she has had to do this season, when you talk about a coachable young athlete, like he is at the forefront of that conversation, every single time she's going, what can I do? What needs that adjustment? Talking with those hitters, constantly seeking that feedback. And so yeah, of looking to me and having that conversation and just that trust in that leadership, it is spoken from people watching the game. I mean, almost after every single time, they're going, hey, like you're setter, her energy, she keeps cheering on that court. She keeps making sure the energy in the talking is going. And so she did a great job and Ava stepped up. I think she also just matched the energy of that night. And it was, she has put in so much work. She started the season and I could have sworn, I was like, hey, she's played middle. And I was like, here you go. And then we made that adjustment kind of early on in the season. And that was a huge celebration night of just you took on this new role. I mean, both of them, you took on this role and look at where you've come. Look at how far you've gone this season. And so that was just a great example for those two of when you focus, when you push, when you're coachable, here's what can happen. Well, something else that was important that night. And it's something that I know has been a struggle this year, but boy, I thought the serving was really good. And I know it's been a minute since you had a night where you were in the nineties when it came to serving. But that night, girls were placing, not just serve over the net, but were placing balls where they need to be placed. I thought that was a huge positive that night as well. Yes, we have made sure that serving has been a top priority in every single practice and really being aggressive with our zoning and making sure that, you know, we're not giving these nice high balls and just being aggressive with those serves. And so they've been phenomenal. Arista, one of our volleyball coaches, the varsity assistant, she is giving those zones. And so just kind of that agreement, knowing that competitive placement, it was a great night for serves, for sure. Yeah, Haley Bingham, I thought was huge. And I remember I put a note on my scorecard because it just felt like every time Bingham stepped up, she was gonna put it over the net. So it didn't shock me after the match. 14 out of 14 is a pretty solid night, coach. Yeah, yep, it was great. And they're just, and I love when they get off, you know, the court and they come and they're like, I'm getting right back after it. Like, man, I'm on fire. Like, from where they started, confidence-wise and positive self-talk to where they are now at at the end of the season, that's a celebration in itself, is just believing in themselves. And I think we saw the result of that on Thursday. Well, and then we go from the highs and the highs to the rough one. And I think when we knew going into ADM was gonna be a buzzsaw, that's a team that number one was celebrating senior night as well when they welcomed you in on Tuesday. Number two, they've been around the rankings all season long. If anybody knows about ADM volleyball, that's one of the top schools in central Iowa. Coach, that was a rough night on Tuesday. Yeah, I think, I mean, it was hard and it was that shock too. We had walked in, I mean, of just, I don't think our mindset was kind of in that competitive walking in like, hey, we're gonna take this, we're going to build in that confidence. I kind of saw a little bit of maybe some of the older that like doubt, the self-doubt. And I think when it comes to the energy and then we're not as sure of ourselves on the court and so playing a little more, a bit more of a tight game, not opening up and getting out of our midline, not reading it because it's a faster pace. ADM, it was a beautiful team to watch and to play against. And it was, they were wonderful. They did what I thought was really special and I think should be shout out for ADM and their AD and their announcer was they took a moment. So we had Kaylee and Claire that were part of the tennis team that our state champions. And they took a moment to celebrate Boone and the state championship that we had just earned that day. And so it was great. I mean, the night itself of just celebrating sports but we did not show up as our best selves and then it showed in the score. Yeah, for sure. Coach Carlisle, we just talked about that you had faced them. It hasn't been that long ago. I'm sure when it comes to kids though, they're like, okay, I know we played Carlisle, but how long ago has it been? That's something you have to remind them about but it was back on September the 29th. Carlisle got the win that night. Now it was at Carlisle. So this won't be a huge shock to have to go back there. What's the early scouting report on what to expect from Carlisle next week? They've got a really consistent, I mean, back row, I think they move really well. They read really well. And so of just us being more competitive with our placement and so kind of thinking about two of not us just setting up well on our end, but how can we get them out of system? How can we do these things to really make them work for it and to have every ball be that competitive placement? And so that's gonna be kind of our huge push as we're getting these reps in the next few days. Chambray, as always, thank you so much for some time. Best of luck. We'll see you in Carlisle next week. Thank you so much. You bet. Chambray Burke again joining us. Boone Volleyball on Coaches Corner.
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