Andover volleyball: More than the 'Karlie show'

After a self-imposed coffee hiatus, Andover volleyball coach Connie Huberty treated herself to a cup earlier this week.

Call it a reward for coaching the inexperienced Huskies into the Class 3A tournament. They begin play at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul against Cretin-Derham Hall (24-5).

The Huskies (26-5) are on an 11-match winning streak featuring victories against ranked Class 3A opponents Shakopee, Blaine and Eden Prairie at the Eastview tournament.

The late surge allowed Andover to reach a state tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons. And it marks the transformation of a team that started the season with more questions than answers.

"I knew we had four players with varsity experience," Huberty said. "But none of them were defensive specialists or setters and that was concerning to me."

Huberty taught defensive strategies and subtleties and gave court time to as many as 10 players. In the process, Andover built around its centerpiece, future Gopher Karlie Hauer.

"I think the mistake people make when they play us [is thinking] that it's the Karlie show," Huberty said.

Key contributions also have come from players such as Kaytlin Turner, second only to Hauer in kills, and assists leader Marissa McNallan. Middle hitter Janelle Rupkalvis plays solid and smart at the net. Newcomers Olivia Graham and McKensey Miller also have made plays in the front row. Meanwhile, Nicole LaPage has converted from an outside hitter to the Huskies' libero.

Huberty encouraged players to invest in each other, starting practice by saying, "I have things I want you to work on but what are the three things you want to work on?"

Since then the Huskies have learned to battle. After starting 0-3 against ranked Class 3A teams, they finished 4-0, including a 2-1 tournament victory over then-No. 1 Blaine.

"I'm enjoying the fight in them," Huberty said. "The first time we played Blaine we played well but not well enough to win. The girls were angry because they felt they could've beaten them."