Newcastle’s volleyball team looking good this season
The Newcastle Racers volleyball team is looking good this year. After earning a berth in the Class 4A state tournament a year ago, the Racers moved over into a new, tougher conference in order to improve their play.
Their record may not show it but Newcastle’s standing among the volleyball community has not dwindled. They are currently 11-12 and ranked No. 12 in the Class 4A OSSAA rankings through Tuesday.
“So far through this season, we are doing pretty well,” Newcastle head coach Nick Serowski said. “The previous coach (Karin Moore) put us into a new conference this year. It’s a more competitive conference and, so far, we have been competing well with these bigger schools.”
On Monday night in a very hot and muggy Newcastle gymnasium, the Racers dropped their match, 3 games to none, to the Mount Saint Mary’s Lady Rockets, who are ranked No. 4 in Class 5A. Newcastle lost 25-15, 25-11, and 25-16.
But, the effort and enthusiasm of the team was evident under Serowski, the Racers’ first-year head coach who is very enthusiastic about his team’s chances of making state again this season.
The Racers went to the Cache Tournament last week and came away with a stout second-place finish. They beat Class 5A No. 15 Lawton MacArthur (25-17, 15-25, 15-12), Class 4A No. 13 Wagoner (25-20, 26-24), Class 4A Verdigris (25-22, 25-23, 25-15), and Class 4A Tuttle (25-8, 25-17) to make it to the winner’s circle.
Wagoner exacted revenge, though, on Newcastle in the championship in four games - 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, and 25-14. Still, the Racers are excited and enthused about this season’s prospects, according to Serowski.
“We went to the Cache Tournament and we were down three starters,” said Serowski. “So, we had to move some people around and play some people who haven’t gotten into games as much as they would have liked. But, they are very competitive and they put everything they had towards the ball.
“We had a good showing as a result. We got second place and made it to the finals. We played Wagoner for the second time in the tournament. We just fell a little bit short.”
The Racers have an even roster as far as the number of seniors and underclassmen who are on the team. Seniors include: Hannah Rouse, Kori Burns, Kylie Johnson, Kennedie Roberts, Brittany Freeman, and Jasmine Williams.
The juniors include Mindy Crosby, Jordan Ashley, and Austyn Pine. The Newcastle sophomores include Emilee Pinkston, Lauren Cook, Graci Wegner, Hudsyn Mack, and Paige Montgomery. There’s one lone freshman on the varsity roster – Hannah Hankins. ›
“We have a pretty even spread for all the positions and all of the classes,” Serowski said. “Our three captains that were voted for are Hannah Rouse, Brittany Freeman, and Jordan Ashley. Hannah and Brittany are seniors and Jordan is a junior. They are big spirits and very competitive and emotionally stable for everybody. It helps a lot.”
Under Serowski, Newcastle had an understandably rough start this year, going 6-10 through Sept. 6. They faced a gauntlet of teams including ranked opponents such as Oklahoma Christian, Community Christian, Westmoore, Christian Heritage, Bethany, Rejoice Christian, Regent Prep, Cache, Oklahoma Bible, Heritage Hall, Shawnee, and Crossings Christian.
But, then came Sept. 11, when Newcastle defeated Class 4A Weatherford, 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, and 25-22.) Now, after the Cache tourney and the strong match against MSM on Monday, things are looking up for Serowski’s crew.
“We did have a bit of a rough start,” Serowski said. “Starting in a new conference, we were playing some bigger and better teams. We weren’t used to that competition yet. But, throughout the course of this season, I think we have understood where we need to be. We’ve picked it up to where we can at least come out even against those teams.”
So, what’s in store for Newcastle’s volleyball team this year?
“We just need to continue to put in the work that we’re putting in right now,” Serowski said. “We’re finally getting to a good mental state to where we can act and do what we need to do. Now, we just have to take care of the ball.”
Newcastle played at Class 5A Chickasha on Tuesday night. The Racers will compete in the Chisholm Trail Conference tournament this Friday and Saturday. Then, Newcastle will host Class 4A Tuttle next Tuesday, Sept. 25.