Erickson reflects on Central volleyball season after playoff loss to Riceville
By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register
Central’s volleyball season came to an end last week, in a loss to the Riceville Wildcats in the playoff opener. The Warriors were bested in straight sets, 25-17, 25-22 and 25-20.
While the outcome wasn’t what coach Kelly Erickson hoped for, the team “battled hard and never gave up, which speaks to the dedication and growth” throughout the season.
“As a coach, I was incredibly proud of our efforts and the heart the team showed on the court,” Erickson said.
Leading the team on offense was Alivia Wiley, who finished with a season-high 10 kills. Tori Sylvester contributed five kills and three assists, while Katie Royer was crucial in setting up the offense with 18 assists and four kills. Reese Berns and Oakley Armstrong had three kills each.
“Their combined efforts helped keep the Warriors competitive in every set,” Erickson said.
On defense, Brylee Erickson achieved a season-high 23 digs and Armstrong also played a key role, contributing 15 digs. Sylvester added 11 digs, followed by Royer with seven and Wiley six. Sylvester also had two blocks, while Royer and Wiley finished with one block apiece.
“Their defensive intensity kept us in the match and gave us opportunities to stay competitive throughout,” the coach said.
Erickson and Wiley served well, with both finishing 11 for 12 with a combined three aces.
However, Erickson stated, “Serving wasn’t quite where I would have liked it to be. We missed nine serves, which is more than ideal, and ended the match with an 85 percent serving accuracy. This fell short of our team goal of serving at 90 percent, a standard we’ve consistently aimed for throughout the season.”
The Warriors wrapped the season 11-19 overall, while going 4-4 in Upper Iowa Conference play.
The offense finished with 523 assists and 562 kills, led by Sylvester, who had a team high 123 kills to go with 18 assists. Wiley collected 106 kills and 20 assists, and Armstrong was next with 95 kills and 16 assists. Berns had 69 kills and five assists on the year. Tessa Sylvester finished with 49 kills and two assists, while Ella Frieden contributed 43 kills and four assists. Leading the way in assists was Royer, who had 425, followed by Erickson with 30.
“Offensively, while we showed great progress throughout the season, there were times we struggled to put the ball down. But the team’s effort and perseverance were evident in every match,” Erickson said.
The defense totaled 1,101 digs and 28 blocks, with Erickson achieving the team high of 278 digs, followed by Royer with 202 and Armstrong with 176. Tori Sylvester had 174 digs and Wiley collected 154. Sylvester also had a team high with 13 blocks, Wiley finished with six and Royer added four.
“Defensively, we were aggressive, with a strong back row supported by athletes who consistently contributed,” Erickson said.
The Warriors finished the season with an 87.2 percent serve efficiency and 204 aces. Erickson led the team with 55 aces, while Wiley was tops in serve efficiency among starters, at 94.6 percent. Other notable serve statistics belonged with Royer, who finished with 37 aces, and Armstrong hit 30.
“The season was marked by tremendous growth, determination and hard work. One of our main team goals was to consistently serve at 90 percent, and we achieved that in most of our matches. We recognized early on that getting our serves in would be crucial to winning games, and we made strides toward that goal,” Erickson said.
The coach reflected on standout moments, which included the match against MFL Mar Mac, which the Warriors won in three sets, “playing incredibly well as a team,” Erickson said. Highlights of that game included Tori Sylvester hitting 15 kills and a defense that “stepped up, with multiple players making key plays to keep us in control of the game,” Erickson said.
Another memorable moment was the regional match against Riceville. Although Central lost, Erickson said it was one of the “best games of the season” because “the team played cohesively and executed the game plan exactly as intended.”
A season’s end also means saying goodbye to the seniors, and this year there were five of them. Erickson called them a dedicated group who each “brought something special to the court.”
As team captain, Tori Sylvester led both offensively and defensively, stepping up as a leader after four years of varsity play. Erickson noted “her experience and presence on the floor will be greatly missed.”
Berns added a strong offensive edge and valuable height to the front row after joining the team last year, and “was always willing to hit from any position, providing versatility wherever needed,” Erickson said.
Tessa Sylvester made an impact offensively and was another player who adapted to any position asked of her. “Her commitment to training outside the season was evident in her improved performance,” Erickson said.
Then there were Brandi Herman and Allison Heer, who Erickson said the team was “fortunate to have.” Though they didn’t see much varsity playing time, Erickson stated “they brought tremendous energy, positivity and enthusiasm. Both Brandi and Allison were incredibly supportive teammates, willing to play at any level or position needed, and their spark will be missed.”
Erickson loved coaching the team.
“They are an incredible group of athletes who came in each day ready to work hard and push themselves to improve. Their dedication to achieving our team goals, from hitting serving targets to strengthening our defense, showed their commitment to growth and success,” she said. “I’m especially proud of the way they grew as a cohesive team, demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude, regardless of the challenges.”
