Beyond the Court: Reflections From KIPP King After a Historic Season
After a historic season, the KIPP King Lions went on to represent the Oakland Section in the CIF State Division V Girls Volleyball Championship Playoffs. Captains Lucy Chen and Carrie Kuang, along with Coach Alana Chung, share insights and reflections on their season.
Can you describe the journey of your season leading up to the CIF championship playoffs? What were some of the key milestones, challenges and achievements that you faced as a team? How did you maintain motivation and focus throughout the season?
Captains (Carrie and Lucy) – While the journey leading up to the CIF championship playoffs wasn’t easy, it was surely fun. This season has definitely been the most memorable with KIPP’s fifth consecutive Championship win and first win of the OAL semi-finals. However, overcoming challenges such as miscommunications, injuries and mental blocks have definitely shaped our team dynamic. As a team, we take these challenges as a reminder that they are what makes us strong and motivate us to keep going. Our focus throughout the season stemmed from the love we have for this sport. No matter the mishaps, the second our shoes are on and the clock starts, we are a family working together to support each other to become better!
Coach Chung – From a coaching perspective, this season was truly special. I’ve coached most of these girls for the past four years, and they never stop amazing me. The journey to the CIF playoffs was unlike anything I’ve experienced and was one of the most rewarding seasons of my career.
On the court, this was one of the highest-performing groups I’ve coached in years. They played with confidence, discipline, and resilience, rising to challenges and competing at a high level every game. Off the court, we focused heavily on building unity and a shared mindset. While winning was important, the message was always clear: winning together is everything.
Like any season, we faced challenges, but those moments only strengthened our bond. We maintained motivation and focus by emphasizing growth, accountability, and team-first goals. The players pushed one another, trusted the process, and supported each other through every high and low.
Reaching the CIF championship playoffs was a huge achievement, but what made it meaningful was how we got there together. This team set a standard for what it means to compete, connect, and succeed as one.
For the team captain, how did you foster teamwork, and camaraderie among the players throughout the season? What specific strategies or practices did you implement to ensure strong communication and collaboration, especially during high-stress moments in playoffs?
Captains (Carrie and Lucy) – As team captains, our strategy to develop efficient teamwork and camaraderie begins off the court. We found that becoming friends who understand each other not just as players but also as people, has strengthened the connection and mutual respect on the court. Whether it is coming to practice early or staying behind to make small talk, every laughter matters. Since the beginning, our coaches have implemented the importance of vulnerable communication. As captains, we have tried our best to turn these expectations into reality by talking to players individually and expressing not only frustration but proudness in a caring manner. With running 6-7 drills per practice, issues are bound to arise; however, the important part was how we reacted to them. During playoffs, stress definitely overrides any other feeling. In order to not let this stress consume us, we remind each other that after all, volleyball is about having fun and the fact that our skills don’t define us as people.
To both Coach Alana and team captain, can you both share your experiences during the CIF state playoffs? What were some of the most memorable moments from the game(s), and how did the team respond to the intensity of the competition at this level? Did you have any standout plays or pivotal moments that defined your playoff run?
Captains (Carrie and Lucy) – During the CIF state playoffs, our team was thrilled to compete at such a high level of intensity. When we arrived at the gym, we quickly ran into the stalls to get changed so we could begin warming up. Though peppering is a common way to warm up, it holds much meaning for our team and it allows us to showcase our skill in a fun and competitive way. Despite our excitement and built up energy, the first set challenged us. Hard-driven balls caught us off guard and we struggled to keep the momentum we started the game with. After the set finished, we quietly walked to the locker room, trying to reflect on what just happened. After a quick talk with Coach Alana Chung, we quickly realized that our frustration had overshadowed our love for our game. That small moment of reflection in the locker room gave us a chance to reset and refocus. When we began the next set, we had a fresh mindset and came in with a better understanding of not only our opponent, but our team as well. Memorable moments don’t just come from how well we play, but from how our team responds to high pressure games. This hard game Built Team Strength we needed for future games. Our love for each other and volleyball goes far beyond what happens on the court. It is the foundation of our teamwork and resilience and as captains, we could not be any prouder of how our team came together despite the outcome.
Coach Chung – Although it was a much bigger “stage” than what the girls were used to, what stood out most to me was how composed and resilient my girls remained, even in high-pressure moments. There were pivotal stretches where our defense locked in, communication was strong, and the girls executed exactly as we had prepared. Those moments showed their growth, not just as athletes, but as a team that believed in each other. Despite coming up short, watching them respond to adversity with confidence and unity was incredibly memorable.
Looking back on the championship experience, what lessons did you learn as individuals and as a team? How do you plan to use these lessons moving forward, whether in your future volleyball endeavors, academic pursuits, or personal growth? What goals do you have next in your volleyball career or athletic career based on what you experienced in the CIF championship playoffs?
Captains (Carrie and Lucy) – While the championship didn’t end the way we intended it to, it highlighted the areas we needed to work most on. Our mistakes became clear to us and we began working on fixing them at the next practice, hoping for our improvement to translate to CIF playoffs. With it being our first defeat, it forced us to confront reality and truly understand the intensity of competitive volleyball. This game further implemented the fact that volleyball should be about fun rather than being too extreme. To consolidate each other, we focused on not only improving but also having fun at our next practice! We plan to take these lessons to better ourselves not only in athletics but also personally and academically. Being an athlete has helped us develop emotional maturity, time management and effective communication, which are all skills applicable outside of sports. As a team, we plan on advancing even further in the CIF championship playoffs next year. Furthermore, we plan on enjoying the season thoroughly by not taking a single win for granted!
Coach Chung – Looking back on the CIF championship experience, the biggest lesson for me as a coach was the importance of trust, resilience, and unity. Competing at the CIF level showed me how important preparation is from the start of the season until the last game. I watched these athletes grow in confidence, leadership, and accountability, both individually and as a team. I truly believe that these lessons go beyond volleyball. The discipline and mental toughness developed throughout the season will continue to serve them in academics and in life. For the future, my goal is to help them build on the standards we have set as an organization and continue to compete with purpose in both volleyball and beyond.
