Despite the youth that head volleyball coach Cindy Nikkel had on her Pella Christian team, she feels they excelled well and performed at a high level despite the large crowds and pressure each game brought. “When the pressure’s on and kids haven’t been in front of a big crowd with that kind of pressure, I think that takes some time and experience to develop,” Nikkel explained. “[If you] make a couple errors, can you come back? How mentally strong are you?” With the amount of experience that her younger talent gained in high-pressure situations, Nikkel should be very much looking forward to the 2013 season. Nikkel also told KNIA/KRLS Sports that she really appreciated the girls’ effort during the Knoxville game that featured a packed gym that her young Eagles had to play in front of. The Eagles will be losing just five seniors at the conclusion of this school year.

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