KNIGHTS PICKING UP CONFIDENCE

Katy Kirk
Katy Kirk

REDDING, Calif. – Shasta College women's volleyball coach Kelly Brazil has been tinkering with the lineup lately and the Knights have responded with competitive matches this past week, which included a victory to cap the weekend.

Shasta College followed two losses in the Panther Classic at Sacramento City College on Wednesday with a split on Friday at its own Shasta Classic, falling to Ohlone College in five sets 25-15, 24-26, 21-25, 25-21, 15-9 before beating Simpson University's JV team in four sets 26-28, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20.

"Our performance trajectory seems to be heading upward and our players realize this and have stayed motivated to continue to work hard during practice," Brazil said.

Sophomore Regin Loftin is proving to be a versatile weapon as a setter and hitter, Brazil said, which is helping the Knights come together as a team.

"Regin has stepped into the role of setter well and has still been able to give our team some kills by exercising a second-hit option," Brazil said.

Loftin totaled 111 assists across the four matches, including 50 in the victory over Simpson. She also added 12 kills in the Knights tournament.

Brazil also moved Katy Kirk from middle to outside hitter and the 5-foot-9 freshman stepped up with a season-best 17 kills against Simpson – the first double-digit kill match of her collegiate career. She added another 18 kills in the three other matches during the week.

Other notable standouts include leading hitter Lexi Bradshaw, who totaled 49 kills last week across four matches, including a season-high 23 kills against Simpson, to go with 55 digs. Skylar Kingsbury added 39 digs in the four matches and freshman Maddison Smedley had back-to-back 20-dig matches on Friday with 28 against Ohlone and 20 against Simpson.

Shasta plays against Hartnell and Taft in the Hartnell Classic Saturday in Salinas.