Volleyball: Schmidt, Springdale striving for special season

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Springdale High’s Zoe Schmidt (right) spikes the ball past Springdale Har-Ber’s Mackenzie White on Tuesday at Springdale High.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Springdale High’s Zoe Schmidt (right) spikes the ball past Springdale Har-Ber’s Mackenzie White on Tuesday at Springdale High.

SPRINGDALE -- The nerves Zoe Schmidt felt never quite went away.

Admittedly, those butterflies impacted her in her first few games as a sophomore for coach Meagan Thompson's Springdale High volleyball team. This fall, though, Schmidt has handled the nerves that come with more expectations, and it's paying dividends for the Lady Red'Dogs (6-2-1).

At A Glance

ZOE SCHMIDT

SCHOOL Springdale High

CLASS Junior

HEIGHT 5-6

NOTABLE Played in each of Springdale’s matches in 2016 as a sophomore. … Recorded a career-high 15 kills against Van Buren last season and equalled it against Fort Smith Northside in the 2017 season opener. … Second on the team last season with 83 kills. Has 53 kills and 98 digs in nine matches this season. … Played softball for Springdale coach Ashlee Friend as a sophomore.

"I was very nervous (last year) because I didn't want to ... I was so used to my Lakeside team, so when I came here and started playing with the high school girls it was kind of scary at first," she said. "But eventually I got used to it. I learned to turn my nerves into a good thing."

By the end of the 2016 season, Schmidt had turned in the best two performances of her young career. In the team's first 21 matches, the sophomore had recorded more than five kills just once. But in a one-week span in mid-October, Schmidt shined with 15 kills against Van Buren and 10 against Rogers High.

Thompson said she could see the potential early on and decided to utilize Schmidt's ability despite a lack of varsity experience.

"She's just one of those kids that's self-determined and she really started to stick out in practice probably mid-season last year to the point where I thought she was ready even as a sophomore, to step up and be a part of that team," said Thompson, Springdale's second-year coach. "She works hard and she's very coachable, and wants to get better. She wants to be the best individual to make the team better."

Thompson's goal this season was to maximize Schmidt's talents by moving her around to each position on the floor. Schmidt stood out on the front row last season, but at times the frustration of a miscue took her out of matches mentally. Thompson is seeing much less of that so far this season.

"Her biggest improvement has probably been on the back row," the coach said. "She's definitely more confident. ... But I'd say she's a lot more willing to shake off those mistakes and get the next pass if she makes a mistake."

Setting mistakes aside and being present during matches is an area not only Schmidt has improved in, but the team as a whole has as well. Team chemistry and leadership were points of emphasis last season and, as players became more familiar with Thompson and vice versa, the team dynamic shifted in a positive way.

"We play more as a team this year," Schmidt said. "Last year everyone had someone they bonded with, and you could definitely tell that on the floor. But this year I feel like we work better together as a team. All around, in every way I'm having more fun this year with my teammates and just playing."

Having more fun has resulted in Schmidt moving more freely in matches, which has benefited Springdale. In the Lady Red'Dogs' season opener at Fort Smith Northside, she picked up where she left off sophomore season with 15 kills in a 3-1 win.

She has also been a plus defensively, recording at least eight digs in every match and 13 or more four times. Thompson said she had higher expectations for Schmidt and Springdale this season, but perhaps didn't envision topping last season's win total before the first full week of conference play began.

"I think its a combination of togetherness in general," Thompson said. "They're buying in and seeing the bigger picture a little bit in year two. Even last year I feel like we could have won more games, but it didn't shake out like I expected. It's a really good start."

For Schmidt, there's no two ways about it -- she sees Springdale making the state tournament this winter.

"I expect us to go to state because we have so many good qualities, and a lot of dedication for it," she added. "I feel like that's a realistic goal we should have reached last year, but didn't have the chance to.

"This year I definitely think that we will."

Sports on 09/07/2017

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