All hands on deck: Jackets dominate Panthers with unity and joy

By Danielle Cherry

Fans in leis packed the stands as the Yellow Jackets took on Kentucky Wesleyan, sweeping them out of the gym in three straight sets on California theme night. Everyone on the team contributed to this victory, setting the standard for what playing with joy looks like. 

It was a special day for the Cedarville women’s volleyball team as each player had the chance to step onto the court. From seniors to freshmen, the Jackets held their own against the Panthers, playing a riveting game that had fans jumping out of their seats. 

Energy was running rampant, and smiles were seen from all sides of the court, even when balls were dropping. That joy spread throughout the whole audience, their cheers echoing off the walls. 

“The first set was really good,” head coach Greg Smith said. “We had the starters the whole time, and I really feel like we set the tone with that first set. We did a good job and played very clean.”

Cedarville played almost flawlessly, and they took the first set 25-10. The Lady Jackets hit forcefully, knocking the Panthers to the ground with the sheer force of the ball. 

While Madelyn Hensley came out with the highest kill count of 12, the whole team slammed unstoppable balls at Kentucky Wesleyan. Cedarville had one of its highest hitting percentages at .478%, and the Panthers had one of the lowest percentages of -.091%. 

The big sweep at the beginning of the match gave space for coach Smith to switch up the lineup, and he sure did have fun with it. It began slowly, a new face would appear on the court, but by the end, a whole new team was playing than the original six. 

“We have a very solid chemistry on the team, so whoever is out on the court can do their job well, and play really well together,” setter Paige Hale said. 

As Hale took over setting for Kaley Matney, the speed of the play never altered. Adjusting to a new setter is difficult, but the Jackets responded as if nothing had changed. Middles kept hitting ones, and outsides continued to get kills cross-court. 

As a new teammate would enter the court, the bench exuberantly cheered them on. It was evident the coaching staff was having fun putting new players in, and while giving direct instructions, there was an ease knowing their team could handle the adjustments. These new players helped the Jackets win the second set 25-21.

“It’s fun. They deserve it,” Smith said. “They work hard, and seeing their execution and not missing a beat makes us feel good that they are developing well.” 

The first new face was Abby Manika, a sophomore outside hitter, who began the trend of immediately swinging a kill. Her break through the Panthers’ block sent the bench flying as close to the court as they could get.

Carley Craighead followed suit. While being smaller in stature than middles Janae Heegaard and Haley Koch, Craighead made up for it with her impressive swing. A precise transition off the net set her up for two jaw-dropping kills back-to-back. 

Seeing new faces opposing them, Kentucky Wesleyan saw it as an opportunity to gain an advantage, turning up the heat with their hitting, and allowing them to steal the lead during the third set. But despite the lineup change, the Jackets held their own, readjusting to the Panthers’ plays. The Jackets pulled out the third set, gaining their victory 25-22.

“We mix things up in practice and change it up, hoping that they get comfortable with whoever they are playing next to,” Smith said. 

Each of the Lady Jackets is equally capable of playing with the same intensity and vigor as the starting lineup. While the Panthers’ original six were flustered with all of the cross-court changes, Cedarville never batted an eye. 

“The future is bright for the program,” Smith said. “We have a large senior class that has had such an effect on the program, but knowing that we have players who are up and coming, it’s good to give them a chance to play.” 

This game marked coach Smith’s 100th win in the program, and Cedarville now holds the top spot in GMAC rankings, being 3-0 in conference play. While the Jackets get a break from tournament-style games, their intensity of play stays the same. No matter who was on the court, the Jackets knew how to work and encourage as a team. 

Danielle Cherry is a sophomore communication major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves to travel, play volleyball and talk about Marvel.