If you’re happy and you know it: QND volleyball players’ enjoyment shows in dominant results

QUINCY — The Pit is their happy place.

To see how true that is, take a gander at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players during warmups or pregame introductions.

Smiles and laughter overtake everyone.

“We love to be here,” senior outside hitter Laela Hernandez-Jones said. “We love games. We love getting to perform what we’re practicing. When we walk in, we have the mentality that we’re the best team.”

Over and over again, the Raiders prove it. Thursday night, they stayed unbeaten at home, overpowering Brown County 25-13, 25-12 while playing with a confidence born of their 17-1 record. QND has swept all five home matches in straight sets, while going to a third set only once all season.

“It’s a lot of energy from everyone,” junior defensive specialist/setter Addison Van Hecke said. “There isn’t one person in our huddle who isn’t excited. Whether they are on the bench or whether they are on the court, everybody is just so excited because they love the energy.

“We all just have the same love for the game and for playing. It helps us compete against each other, and it helps us push each other to be better.”

Maintaining their joy is something QND coach Courtney Kvitle stresses.

“Ultimately, when you’re playing sports it should be fun,” Kvitle said. “I want the kids to enjoy it. I want them to genuinely go out there and be happy. It’s stuff we talk about. If you’re not happy when you’re here, find something that makes you happy. All the kids deserve that.

“Obviously, I want to win. I’m extremely competitive, and so is the team. But there is more to athletics. You can learn more than just winning. There’s so much more.”

Like instilling confidence and self-esteem.

The Raiders outscored the Hornets 16-6 to close the first set and buried them with a 12-4 spurt to open the second set. Sophomore setter Annie Eaton finished with 19 assists, while junior outside hitter Emma Hoing had eight kills and four aces.

The critical aspect is every player on the court contributed, and the confidence that comes with it is growing.

“It helps us know that we can do it,” Van Hecke said. “We have the skills. We have the mindset. We know later on in the season we can do it.”

And they have the right approach. That begins with Kvitle, who is intense says she is “not the kind of coach who is going to be on the sideline with pom-pons.”

“I expect them to win,” she said. “I expect them to play very hard all the time, but it’s their job to learn how to have fun. They’ve done a pretty good job of that so far this year.”

The fifth-year coach has helped the Raiders see how to make sure the game stays fun.

“You always have to bring it back to earth sometimes and remember to just chill,” Kvitle said. “Hang out and don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Don’t be so stressed. A lot of kids know when they’re in a gym they feel confident and they feel comfortable. And that’s how you get results like that.”