Coach Andrea Kinneson, left, gives the Lady Coyotes some motivation during a timeout in a home match this season.

The hard fought year paid off for Pawnee’s Lady Coyotes, with coach Andrea Kinneson leading her team to compete at state, earning her coach of the year and several of her players some very solid recognition. It was a season with struggles and risks, but it brought the team to the big show, a team very important to Kinneson.

“These girls are like my daughters,” Kinneson said of Kaeley Malcom, Adele Cass, Tasha Timm and Kaylie Hahn, the senior starters this season. Kinneson had the honor of coaching Cass, Malcom and Timm since the sixth grade, Kinneson praised the girls’ work effort noting they attended open gyms, club volleyball and all the tournaments they could.

In her seventh year coaching at Pawnee, and 10^th year total, Kinneson has learned to take advice from others, including her assistant coaching staff. She has grown close to many in the school community and conference, she even feels comfortable calling Derek Herbert from Fleming with questions. This year Kinneson wanted to try something new and took a risk with their practice time, 15 minutes at the beginning of each practice was spent doing a book study.

“Mental preparation is as important as physical preparation,” Kinneson explained.

With a maximum of about two hours to practice each day, taking that time off the court could have impaired the team, but Kinneson believes “if something doesn’t work than don’t keep doing it.”

“It sounds crazy as I’m saying it,” Kinneson said revealing her doubts of the new strategy, but building the mental game paid off.

The Lady Coyotes headed into districts for tournament play that took stamina to make it through. The pool play brought Pawnee up to the net against Fleming for the highest scoring game in both the coaches history with Pawnee on the losing side of the 31-33 bout. Kinneson marveled at the team’s mental toughness, explaining they played 26 or 27 games in two days in order to move on to Regionals. Kinneson believes this impressive feat is what earned her the  All Colorado 1A Coach of the Year title.

The team toppled teams who had beat them all season in order to move on, and Kinneson said they made it through regionals easily. At state, the ladies found themselves in a California playoff which they lost and since the fifth and sixth place is not played out, they could be considered tied for fifth.

With so much to be proud of Kinneson credits the team, her coaching staff, and the community’s support for reaching the goal of state and gaining much recognition.

“I hope girls returning remember what it took to get there. I hope they believe in themselves,” Kinneson said looking towards next year’s season.

In coaching, Kinneson tries to empower women and “give a good, strong example.” In coming years she hopes for more success, more wins being the grand goal, but also to help change the view of what the girls can accomplish. Building confidence throughout the season is one reason, Kinneson said, the Lady Coyotes went howling into state.The goals of empowering and building confidence must have worked as several of the players were honored at the end of the season as well. Cass was selected All Colorado 1A Second Team by the Denver Post, All State by CCGS, and North Central League All Conference. Malcom was also selected All State CCGS and North Central League All Conference. Timm and junior, Lyndee Johnston joined in for North Central League All Conference.

Malcom, Timm, and Hahn were selected to play in the NJC All Star Game. Cass, Malcom, and  Johnston were selected to King FM All Reliable District Tournament Team.

Kinneson boasted in their community newsletter, “Congratulations to the entire volleyball team who won the “Cardiac Kids” 2011 Benny Award on KNNG radio. To listen to the Benny Awards radio show go to King FM Sports Crew Facebook page!”

Congratulations indeed, to a team empowered and a strong coach and woman role model.