Lady Rebel Volleyball 2026 season opener at Rocky Tournament

 The Lady Riverside Rebels are back again for another season of volleyball. They are a young team, have a new head coach Nikki Hopkin, and with a whole new set of dynamics. We are joined by Coach Crystal Cooper from Ten Sleep, and Coach Hannah Klitzke from Greybull as well. 

Coach Hopkin answered some questions about her team and the direction she’d like to see the team go. 

What are the team’s main goals for the season? 

One of our biggest goals is to grow together and gain valuable experience while competing at a high level. We want to establish a strong foundation for Riverside volleyball and get better every time we step on the court. We absolutely want to win and will compete to win every match, but we also want to become more confident, consistent, and comfortable as a team. Our goal is to be a much better team at the end of the season that we were at the beginning. 

What does success look like beyond wins and losses? 

Success is seeing our players grow- not only as volleyball players, but as young women. We want them to learn how to work hard, handle adversity, communicate, hold each other accountable and trust one another. Winning matters because we are competitors, but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story. The relationships we build, the confidence we develop, and the character we demonstrate will be just as important. 

Which returning players are stepping into leadership roles this year, or will they ALL be expected to do so? 

We believe leadership is going to be a responsibility shared by everyone. Our returning players will naturally bring experience and be looked to for leadership, but we expect every player to have a voice and contribute. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the gym; it’s about doing the right things consistently, leading by example, and making the people around you better.

How would you describe the team’s chemistry so far? We’ve been really encouraged by our chemistry so far. We are still learning about each other, our systems and how everyone’s strengths fit together, but we see a group of young ladies who are willing to work for one another. One of our biggest focuses is building an environment where players genuinely care about the success of the person next to them. In volleyball, you have to trust the person beside you, and I want our players to understand that their teammates’ success is their success, too. 

What will be the focus of your preseason training? 

Our preseason focus has been focused on fundamentals, conditioning, consistency, and establishing our identity as a team. We want to become very good at the little things – serving, passing, communications, defense, transition, and taking care of the ball. We’ll also spend time developing volleyball IQ so our players understand not only what we’re doing, but why. Physically, we want to build the strength, endurance, and mental toughness to compete hard from the first point to the last. 

What changes have you/are you going to make to your coaching approach or game strategy this season?

As a new head coach, I’m bringing my own vision and expectations while still respecting the foundations that has already been built at Riverside. One of our biggest focuses will be developing every player and helping them understand how important their role is to the team’s success. Strategically, we want to be aggressive and disciplined – serve tough, play great defense, limit unforced errors and put pressure on our opponents. At the same time, we want to be adaptable and able to recognize what is happening on the other side of the net and make adjustments. 

How will you build a strong team, one that works as a unit and not just a group of strong individuals?

This will be one our biggest focuses all season. We want our players to understand that volleyball is a sport where the whole is greater than the individual parts. We’ll build trust and accountability, while emphasizing that every role matters, even when a player isn’t the one getting the kill or making the big play. We want to celebrate the pass the leads to the kill, the defensive play that keeps a rally alive, the tough serve that puts an opponent our of system, and the teammate on the bench who is constantly encouraging those on the court. Ultimately, we want our players to move from asking, “what can I do?” to asking, “What does my team need from me right now?” That’s when a group of athletes becomes a team. 

We wish the Lady Rebels all the successes they strive for and we support you! The Lady Rebels will be playing at the Rocky Mountain Tournament in Cowley this Friday and Saturday. Pool play starts at 2:00 p.m. for the Rebels on Friday against Rocky, and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday against Greybull.