News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Ahead of their first round district match-up with Watertown, Livingston Academy volleyball head coach Christie Jenkins said a season of hardships has prepared the Wildcats for the bright lights.
The 2024 campaign has seen LA deal with injuries, illness, rotation fluctuation and general inexperience. Jenkins said this year has been tough on her, but noted the team never faltered and only grew stronger as the season wore on.
“It’s been an emotional and mental year for them too,” Jenkins said. “I think sometimes they don’t understand why we’re not clicking, why we’re not getting it. And I feel like in the last week, we kind of have gotten that. So, I’m hoping they can carry that on game by game.”
With the postseason opening up with a home game, Jenkins said the familiarity with the gym, locker room, crowd and referees should ease the nerves of her players. In the regular season LA and Watertown faced off twice splitting the series, Jenkins said the Purple Tigers present
“Watertown is playing well right now,” Jenkins said. “They beat Stone Memorial in their tournament, of course they beat Upperman. To me our district is fairly like – we’re all about the same caliber of team. It just depends on who’s on that night and who’s not.”
In a tumultuous season, a constant, steady presence for the Wildcats has been senior Mallie Carwile. Carwile has been a contributor to the program since she was a freshman and has been a rotation starter since her sophomore season.
Jenkins said it’s hard for high schoolers to fully grasp that their playing career ends as a senior. And since a loss would end the Wildcats’ season and Carwile’s career, Jenkins said the message to the team is to play for something other than yourself.
“I told them to play hard for her, to play hard for this team and we are capable of beating anybody, we just have to work together” Jenkins said. “I try to motivate them that way, but in the end it’s how hard they’re going to work tonight, that’s what it all boils down to.”
Wildcats vs Purple Tigers tonight at Livingston Academy, game starts at 5pm.
