RIDGEFIELD — The sharpness of a well-struck spike.
The defiant stubbornness of a stuff block.
In volleyball, these are parts of the game you see.
Ridgefield wins because of what you don’t see.
With a new focus on mental strength, Ridgefield is back at the Class 2A state volleyball tournament.
Last year, Ridgefield had one of Clark County’s top players in Shannon Boyle, who now plays for Sacramento State.
How would the Spudders replace a player whose talent is irreplaceable? Coach Sabrina Dobbs looked to what her returning players could offer.
Maturity was first on the list. Ridgefield has five seniors, three of whom have been on varsity four years.
So instead of drawing up new training plans or game strategies, Dobbs started reading about the game as it’s played between the ears.
“Eighty percent of the game is mental,” Dobbs said. “It’s about the enthusiasm you play with. It’s about being aggressive. But its also about being positive and consistent in your approach when things might not be going your way. When your mental game is off, anxiety starts to creep in. You do things you normally wouldn’t do, like shanking a pass.”
By keeping an even keel, Ridgefield sailed undefeated through the 2A Greater St. Helens League season. Outside of tournaments, the Spudders’ only losses are to Class 4A Battle Ground and in the district championship match to Tumwater, one of the top 2A teams in the state.
Shyanne Chandler, the 2A GSHL co-MVP, said the team developed its mental strength outside of the gymnasium.
The senior said there were cliques that divided Ridgefield teams in the past. But there’s more to team chemistry than just hanging out together.
This season, players did an exercise they called “bouquets.” Each player wrote down what good things each other brings to the team.
“It might sound corny, but we’re studying those every night,” Chandler said. “It’s just to remind each of us that you’re on this team for a reason.”
Chandler, Raigan Page and Paige Smith are in their fourth year on varsity. Fellow seniors Samantha Rice and Ali Serface have also seen volleyball become a big part of their teenage years.
“Even going back to middle school we’ve all watched each other grow up together,” Smith said. “They’re my second family. They mean the world to me.”
Those seniors begin their final tournament for Ridgefield on Friday with a first-round match against Fife at 8 a.m. at Pierce College in Lakewood. A quarterfinal or consolation match will follow that evening.
It will be emotional, the seniors say. But part of being mentally tough is to not let the moment become overwhelming.
“The crowd is huge up there,” Serface said. “The mindset is super important. Last year, we got up there and were like ‘oh my gosh, this is huge.’ Now we’re ready for it.”
With a win, Chandler will enjoy one more unseen part of the game. In her head, she mocks any opponent that makes fun of the Spudders nickname.
“We always get harassed about our nickname,” Chandler said. “It’s awesome to think ‘You just got beat by a Spud.”
WIAA State Volleyball Championships
When: Friday and Saturday.
Where: Class 4A and 3A in Lacey (St. Martin’s University and -Timberline High School), Class 2A in Lakewood (Pierce College), Class 1A at Yakima (SunDome).
LOCAL TEAMS COMPETING
Battle Ground — Oregon recruit Brooke Van Sickle is one of the Northwest’s best players. The junior has the Tigers in the 4A state tournament for the first time since 1989.
Camas — Led by Lauren Harris and seven other seniors, the 4A district champions look to better their sixth-place finish last year.
Columbia River — Last year’s fourth-place finisher in the 3A tournament, the Chieftains are ranked No. 2 in the Seattle Times statewide poll. River is led by two-time GSHL MVP Evi Wilson.
Prairie — The Falcons are among the most battle-tested teams in the 3A bracket. Prairie won three consecutive loser-out matches on Saturday to qualify for state.
Ridgefield — Behind 2A GSHL co-MVP Shyanne Chandler, the Spudders are in state for the third time in four years. They are No. 6 in the Seattle Times’ 2A rankings.
Woodland — State qualifiers the past two years in Class 1A, the Beavers qualified in their first season in Class 2A. They are led by Kate Swett, a first-team all-leaguer.
La Center — The Wildcats won two loser-out matches to make state for the second consecutive year. Senior captain Kaela Carnes leads La Center from her front-line position.
King’s Way Christian — Fourth place in 2012, the Knights lost just two matches in league and district play. At 6-foot-2, senior middle blocker Hannah Snyder gives King’s Way a tall presence at the net.
