Creek Valley volleyball off to excellent start, staying focused

For the first time, the Creek Valley varsity volleyball team is off to an 8-0 start.

The Storm swept the opposition in their first seven matches and then defeated Sedgwick County, three sets to one, in their most recent match last Thursday. The team has already won the Garden County Tournament championship and in the process, swept perennial powerhouse Leyton, which went 30-3 last season.

The Storm's undefeated start is a new experience for head coach Roger Behrends and his team. But he knows there's a long way to go and that it's important to stay grounded. One way to do just that is to adopt an underdog mentality.

"We've never been in this position before and like I told them (the players) 'we have a target on our back a little bit this year,' " Behrends said. "You better show up to practice and practice like you're the team that's 0-8. That's the way you should play."

Even as well as the Storm is playing, Behrends is constantly reminding his team that it can't take its fundamentals for granted and it must play with a chip on its shoulder.

"It's great to start 8-0," Behrends said. "We have to pass the ball (well). We passed for 45 minutes tonight (at practice) and so far this season we have been passing well. The starters have been playing real well together, and we have a bench that is really strong and is pushing them. We'll have to practice hard to keep doing what we've been doing."

This season, the Storm are led by seniors Jill Behrends and Madison Blackwelder. Behrends, a 5-foot, 10-inch outside hitter, is leading the team in kills (61), kill percentage (44.2), service aces (14) and is second on the squad in digs (61).

As the team's primary setter, the 5-foot, 7-inch Blackwelder has been superb handling the ball this year. Coach Behrends has emphasized strong passing and Blackwelder has answered that call with 85 assists and just four handling errors on 246 handling attempts. She also has 14 service aces.

The Storm will look to continue their perfect start when they play Sutherland

(3-5) and Perkins County (0-11) on the road Wednesday at 5 p.m.