If there is one thing this season that the Issaquah Eagles Volleyball team proved, it is their strength. They have won 20 of 24 games against Skyline, Mount Si, Lake Washington, Woodinville, and more. Through strong leadership, teamwork, and a supportive community, they remain motivated and undefeated. So what makes them so efficient and collaborative? We sought to uncover the story behind their success this year!
Community support is a key factor in their success, motivating them to persevere. “We have a lot of families that come to support us … they always show up and cheer for us,” Junior Casey Kot says, in response to how the community benefits the team. The Issaquah Eagles are also strong in the fact that each player is always doing their best and is committed to the game. Like with all sports, playing volleyball is not without its struggles. This is where commitment, support, and mindset are extremely important. “If one person is struggling, we will support them and make sure that they are in a good headspace,” Kot says. When asked about the difficulties of coaching volleyball, Coach Tami Reese explains, “Well, our goal is to get better and better each day, so you just have to keep practicing and focusing. The hardest thing about it is that you have to keep getting better each day, so you have to make sure your factors are focused and you have to keep, you know, keep getting back for today.”
In any team leadership and guidance is a factor that weighs heavily in a team’s overall mood and culture. Sophomore Molly Yoshino says, “there are always moments to learn from.” Yoshino continues to add that, “I think we have leaders like some of us who shine, like more on the court, so nervous they shine, like doing team practices. And just like making sure we are all being productive and getting each other, and we all have our strengths. It is helping. We all have different things to do, so it helps balance it out.” Productivity can look a lot different in a volleyball setting. As Yoshino says, various people shining in various ways can help a lot more. Someone managing people very well can lead people to stay on task and improve every day, while others who are better on gamedays can lead people to victory.
With their amazing community support, teamwork, and leadership, one would assume the Issaquah Eagles were of good standing, not just an ardent team, and they are. The Issaquah Eagles are twenty fourth in Washington State. Their win on Oct. 25, against South Kitsap was the closest victory they had since Oct. 21, 2024. This game bolstered Issaquah’s record up to 17-3-1. As of now, their record is at 20-3-1, meaning that out of all their games, the Eagles won 20, lost 3, and ended one game with a tie. This has been an absolutely a successful season for the Issaquah Eagles so far. Make sure to continue to support the Issaquah Volleyball Team in their upcoming matches and let us keep cheering for their success on the court! Go Eagles!
