| 09 November 2009
This past weekend, the Seattle Prep Volleyball team beat Bishop Blanchet to win the District two championship. Seattle Prep will be heading to Kennewick for the 3A state tournament this Friday. We got a chance to talk to one of their key players, Lani Beadle, a Senior Libero, about the season and the upcoming state championships. Check it out after the jump!
Leading up to the final week of the regular season, Prep was good, but just couldn't quite beat Eastside Catholic and Blanchet. But then you guys beat Eastside and went on to beat Blanchet in the Metro and District playoffs. What changed, how were you guys able to dominate these teams when it counted the most?
As a team, we didn't look at Blanchet or Eastside Catholic any differently than we do any other in our league. We knew what we needed to do to in order to reach our goals. Rather than focusing our attention on the opponent, we focused on ourselves and how we could improve our game. We minimized errors, played TOGETHER, and had fun. Prep has something a lot of teams don't and that is PURE TEAM CHEMISTRY.
Is that something your coaches have been preaching, focusing on yourselves and not your opponent? How does the team keep things in perspective and still able to have "fun" when considering the high-stakes games this team has been in?
Yes, our coaches have emphasized this from the beginning of the season and it seems more relevant now than ever before. To answer your second question, we feed off the intensity and love of the game. We love playing with each other and that makes it fun. Every person on our team is very competitive and when we have to fight to win, it makes the game 100x better and fun for all of us.
Was this special team chemistry always present since the beginning of the season? Or has it slowly progressed to where the team is now?
The chemistry has always been there. As the season continues, we have just become closer and closer as a team. Our coach always tells us that we are a team of 14 and we win/lose as a team.
How have you yourself grown into a leader on this team? Take me through your four years in the Prep Volleyball program.
I have grown tremendously as leader due to the prep volleyball program. The coaches have taught me what I can do to encourage my teammates and to lead by example. I entered the volleyball program as an awkward freshman playing outside hitter for the C-Team at Prep. My sophomore year I made the transition onto varsity as a libero and from then on I continued to play libero for Prep. Being on the team for three years has helped me determine what kind of leadership works and what doesn't.
Did you ever foresee yourself being a senior leader on a team bound for state?
Yes, we have worked hard as a team and "State '09" has remained a long-term goal throughout the season.
What's the future looking like? Do you want to play volleyball at the next level?
I don't know. I am playing club volleyball this season and I guess I will see what happens.
Well, thanks for your time, and good luck in the playoffs.
Thanks Kev, anytime.
