Possession of league’s best hitter key to volleyball team’s
improvement
When Kiely White looks back on her four years as the premiere
outside hitter for the Anzar Hawks volleyball squad, she can do so
with a brimming smile on her face.
White, currently the Mission Trail Athletic League leader in
kills with 224, can graduate knowing she is a big part of Anzar’s
transition from a 0-16 team her freshman year to a league contender
this year.
Possession of league’s best hitter key to volleyball team’s improvement
When Kiely White looks back on her four years as the premiere outside hitter for the Anzar Hawks volleyball squad, she can do so with a brimming smile on her face.
White, currently the Mission Trail Athletic League leader in kills with 224, can graduate knowing she is a big part of Anzar’s transition from a 0-16 team her freshman year to a league contender this year.
There is a direct correlation between the Hawks rise in the MTAL standings and White’s steady improvement as a volleyball player season after season.
Flashback to 1998 when a skinny 5-10 freshman walked into the volleyball tryouts in Anzar Gymnasium looking to make the Hawks’ inaugural team.
As coaches ran a hitting drill just to see what they had, they were pleasantly surprised when White’s turn came.
White, who started playing in the sixth grade after signing up for a tutorial course that was offered by her school, nervously stepped on to the hardwood, received the first set pass, leapt and pounded it over the net.
Flabbergasted by the leaping ability, timing and force of the young White, coaches fed her a couple of more passes and were pleased by the results. Each kill found a corner of the volleyball court.
Granted, coaches knew the team would take years to make an impact in the MTAL, where the talented King City Mustangs and the Santa Catalina Cougars run roughshod, but with White, the Hawks could compete.
In her first year, White racked up 121 kills to lead the team, but could not guide the Hawks to a win.
Unsatisfied with the results on the court, White began the off-season training method that would eventually result in her dominance and the team’s ascent up the MTAL ladder.
White hit the weight room and joined a club volleyball team. On the club team, White played every position from middle blocker to setter.
Learning the nuances of the other positions on the court enabled White to know more about the position she played for the Hawks.
“I played everywhere,” said White. “Doing that helped me out a lot.”
In her second year White again led her team in kills and led the MTAL in kills with a 12.1 kpg average. The Hawks’ record improved by three games.
During the 2001 offseason, White joined San Jose’s Quicksilver club team and continued to play both outside hitter positions and along the back line. Adding another two inches to reach her current height of 6-feet – and a few inches to her vertical leap – White stormed through the 2001-02 season and her team followed suit.
She led the MTAL again with an 14.6 kpg average and the Hawks, with the addition of setter Gina Ray, the emergence of outside hitter Stephanie Smith and a collection of solid role players, rolled.
They amassed an 11-6 overall record, finished fourth in the MTAL with nine wins and four losses and advanced to the CCS playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Division V bracket.
In her first CCS appearance, White did not disappoint. She smashed 15 kills, made five blocks and rifled nine service aces.
This year, White is on a tear and a mission.
Thus far, White has pounded out 224 kills in 20 games, an average of 11.2, 111 digs and 36 aces and the Hawks are in fourth place with a 4-3 record. They trail the league-leading Santa Catalina Cougars by three games and are one game out of third place.
Last Thursday when the Hawks hosted the Carmel Padres, White put on a show when her 22 kills and 11 digs put the Padres down and out.
“We want to win league and get back to CCS,” said White. “That’s our goal this year. We always want to improve.”
Last month the Hawks accomplished another first by winning the Carmichael Invitational and White finished with 54 kills, 28 digs and 10 aces.
Once the season is complete, White said she would entertain offers from a few colleges including Mesa State in Arizona and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
