ROCKINGHAM — Junior volleyball player Catherine Dennis has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
The Lady Raiders saw their 2021 season come to an end on Monday in the first round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament, but one constant in the middle of the floor this season has been Dennis.
Emerging as a leader on and off the court, this is Dennis’ first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 16
Birthday: May 22, 2005
Year: Junior
Fall Sport: Volleyball
Position: Middle Hitter
Height & Weight: 6-0, 180 pounds
Years on Varsity: 2 years
Experience: 7 years
AT THE NET WITH CATHERINE DENNIS
A presence in the middle of the net, Dennis served as two regular middle hitters for the Lady Raiders alongside sophomore Katie Way this fall. Seeing a lot more playing time as a junior, Dennis played 55 sets in the regular season and led the team with 98 kills and averaged nearly two kills per set.
Dennis’ kill percentage of 27.8% was the highest on the team amongst Richmond players with at least 20 attack attempts.
In a hard-fought loss to rival Scotland High School in last Thursday’s regular-season finale, Dennis had two kills. Her season-high was 12 kills, which happened in both matches against Hoke County High School.
Aside from attacking, Dennis’ primary job is to block opposing shots at the net. She finished the season with a team-high 26 blocks, including 19 solo blocks. Her five blocks against Pine Forest High School was a season-high.
Dennis was also second on the team with 13 aces, recording three of them in the second meeting against Lee County High School.
In a year of development, Dennis and the Lady Raiders went 4-16 overall with a 3-10 mark against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents.
Note: official stats from Monday’s SAC tournament game at Union Pines were not available at the time of publication.
Catherine Dennis attempts a kill during the second set of Richmond’s match at Union Pines on Monday. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
RAPID RESPONSES WITH CATHERINE DENNIS
ROSports: Describe what your role is at middle hitter and what has made you successful this season?
Dennis: “As a middle hitter, I’m always in the middle of the floor surrounded by all the action. Playing on varsity, I’ve realized my role a lot more and it’s a bigger position I need to fill. My two jobs are to hit and block, which always keeps my head on a swivel.
“Playing in the offseason for my travel team in Raleigh really helped me this season. Being able to connect with my (Richmond) teammates and communicate better with them was also a big help. The seniors on the team picked all of us up and gave good constructive criticism.”
ROSports: This season was a roller coaster for the team. How do you think it will help the Lady Raiders prepare and get better for next fall?
Dennis: “Having a really young team this year helped all of us realize how important it is to work as a team. It’s also much different playing at the varsity level than it is on JV.
“This year was a lot of preparation for next season, and the more experience we got as a team will help us in the future. Plus, a lot of the girls will be playing travel ball.”
ROSports: What’s the most exciting part of the game of volleyball for you?
Dennis: “Every play is an adrenaline rush, but the thing that gets me most excited are the plays where you don’t know what’s going to happen next.
“I may get a pass that isn’t as great, or the set might be weird, but I still get it over the net. Being successful on those surprising plays is a lot of fun.
ROSports: Your mom, Melissa Dennis, is an assistant coach. What is that dynamic like and how does she help you get better?
Dennis: “It’s weird sometimes, but it helps me because she played this game and knows what she’s talking about. A lot of the time we can just look at each other and know what we’re thinking or what I need to do.
“We also get to go home and talk about how I can get better. My mom also tells me what I’m doing great, and she gets really excited on the sideline for all of us. She’s my No. 1 biggest fan.”
ROSports: If you could choose a couple of emojis to describe yourself, which ones would they be and why?
Dennis: “I’d have to say a lot of the expression emojis like the crying laughing and the smiling emojis. I tend to be smiling most of the time.
“And the emoji that’s smiling with a little tear, I can be that way sometimes. No matter what I’m going through, I try to have a great day and power through.”
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.
