Navi Islam-Zwart (8) celebrates a big play. The Cheney senior was a second-team All-Greater Spokane League selection.
The numbers certainly speak for themselves in confirming the improvement Cheney High School volleyball had between 2021 and 2022.
The jump helped affirm head coach Heather Zorrozua's claim of "What a season my girls had."
In their first true season as a Greater Spokane League 3A school in 2021, the Blackhawks finished ninth in the league at 1-8 and 3-13 overall - tied for the basement with University. The 2022 squad improved to sixth at 4-5 in league, 11-8 overall and had three playoff games.
"Going into this season, I would say we knew we had some work to do and something to prove to the GSL," Zorrozua wrote in an email.
Tied for last place in 2021, Zorrozua knew people would look past her team. "We were ready to put in the work," she said.
And the work certainly seemed to pay off. "When we came out 6-0 on the season, I knew this team was exceptional and would show more grit and commitment than any other team we have had at CHS," Zorrozua said.
University ended that undefeated string Sept. 27 with a 3-0 win but Cheney picked its way through league play that sent them on the road in the opening round of postseason. A big 3-0 victory in a loser-out match at Walla Walla helped extent the Blackhawks' season into double-elimination play.
The season ended, however, following losses to the two top teams in the GSL, 3-1 to second-place Mead and 3-0 to regular-season champ, Mt. Spokane.
The 2022 season was not only improved in the win-loss column but interest from the school. Turnout was huge and allowed the varsity program to have a large bench. "This was the first year we had ever carried more than 10 players on varsity, and it was a blessing and a curse at times," Zorrozua said.
"We worked through the ups and downs of playing time and celebrated the depth we had to compete against some of the best teams in the state of Washington," she said.
Cheney's resurgence helped get three players noticed for All-GSL team honors. Navi Islam-Zwart earned second-team honors with Hayleigh Ghering and Joy Assonken both honorable mention.
Among the many things Zorrozua said she took away from the season were some intangibles.
"With 14 young women on this team, it was ample opportunity to support them in learning many life lessons, the power of a team, and how they can be strong, confident humans who will do amazing things in this world," she predicted.
Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].
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