Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Senior Austyn Phelps Looks to Lead Lady Knights

Team looks to continue 2009 dominance in playoffs

by Bret Sims

Austyn Phelps loves playing volleyball and in her final season with the Lady Knights from Kings High School she is part of a team that went undefeated in the FAVC Cardinal Division, claiming the title.

She is a very solid all around player who managed to deliver 33 aces, 77 kills, 86 digs and 467 assists (led the team) that is willing to do whatever it takes to win and winning is very important to Austyn. In fact it is the main reason she has been playing for the past eight years.

“I prefer a point. I don't care how we get it, when we get it, or whatever. I just want to win, and if that takes me digging balls the whole game, setting up kills, or acing the other team, so be it..,” responded Austyn when asked what part of volleyball she enjoyed the most.

She is very competitive to the point that sometimes she will admit that she can be somewhat of a sore loser but as she says “If you don’t get upset about losing then you don’t want it bad enough”.

Austyn’s competitiveness is only outdone by her toughness on the court. Since September 12th in a tri-match with Beavercreek and Mason when she broke the radius bone in her left wrist but has managed to play the rest of the season with a sports cast during the games and a brace when off the court. If you have ever watched a volleyball game you can only imagine the pain and chance of further injury by diving after balls, blocking at the net or spiking the ball and despite all of this she helped lead her team game in and game out.

Even though she could have spoken about herself when asked what she wants people to know about her she reveled her character and integrity by responding “It's more like what do I want people to know about our team. I think many teams in the area underestimate us and our abilities, but we can hang with the best of them and we're going to prove it in sectionals and hopefully farther. We have the potential to be great and when we all gel as a team, we can be unstoppable.”

“AustyBear” as she is known by her teammates, a name given to her by her mom that seemed to stick, speaks highly of both her teammates and her coaches.

She feels that her teammates are the best group of people that she has played with in a long time. They are teammates that can rely on each other, not catty like teenage girls can often be. “When something goes wrong we never fight, or blame each other, we keep pushing forward and forget about it.” said Austyn.

As for her coaches she loves them all and knows that when they yell at her that they are building into her, making her better and not tearing her down or degrading her (something a lot of coaches still need to learn when instructing high school athletes).

Austyn the oldest of three children (Madison and Landon) to Ed and Cindy Phelps believes her teammates would describe her as an enthusiastic, determined leader on the court. Off the court she has a sarcastic side and likes to joke a lot. Something her coach took some time to get used too but after four years has come to appreciate and will miss when Austyn has graduated

“She is such an amazing leader and has really been a positive role model for the younger girls. We are very proud of our daughter and know that with her dedication and drive she will grow to be a successful and important person. It has been an honor watching her play this year”, said Austyn’s proud parents Ed and Cindy.

Austyn is still figuring out which college she will attend after she leaves high school but know wherever she goes volleyball along with basketball and lacrosse will be a part of it. She is just too competitive to leave it at Kings as she has the heart and desire to be a champion.