LACEY — Effort counts twice.
Some coaches across all levels of sports have adopted this saying popularized by author and psychologist Angela Duckworth.
Talent alone doesn’t always lead to the same success as hard work and effort, Duckworth explained in her book “Grit.”
Sitting at 2-6 nearly halfway through the 2026 regular season, River Ridge first-year volleyball head coach Arianna Jacobson wants her team to buy into that philosophy. In her eyes, what the Hawks are lacking isn’t hustle on the court.
It’s confidence within themselves and on their faces.
“I’m looking for more heart and more effort on their faces. I know they want it. They’re working really hard in practice,” Jacobson said. “I want to be able to see it on their faces. There’s a couple players that have more introverted personalities, and you just can’t be introverted out on the court. When things aren’t going well, then we go more inward.”
River Ridge’s latest loss, a sweep at home by Lincoln on Tuesday, Sept. 29, was the fifth in a row in Puget Sound League play. Moments of improvement by the Hawks were often buried underneath fundamental mistakes, none carrying more weight than a frequent lack of communication.
Scoring spurts by the Abes snowballed into game-shifting runs from which the Hawks struggled to climb back. In the first set, River Ridge took a timeout down 9-6 and responded with four straight to take the lead. Poor serve receive by the Hawks played a part in a 5-0 run in favor of Lincoln, and it came back to haunt them at the end of the set.
Up 19-18, River Ridge allowed the Abes to finish the frame with seven straight points, including three aces, to win 25-19.
The second set was by far the best display of effort and hustle from River Ridge, which built a 14-8 lead. But another pair of Lincoln runs turned the set upside down. The Abes spurred a 10-1 run to pull ahead by three points, and a late push by River Ridge wasn’t enough in a 25-23 loss.
Hawks junior pin hitter Ny’zriae Collins-Howard was all over the court in the second set, providing power with her left-handed swing from both sides of the net on offense. She also stepped in as a setter and was a force as a blocker at the net.
“She’s so athletic, and she covers a lot of court on defense,” Jacobson said of Collins-Howard. “She had some really good line shots.”
River Ridge and Lincoln ping-ponged back and forth in the third set early before Lincoln’s 7-0 run put the Abes in control. Miscommunication on serve receive and on offense continued to cost the Hawks in their 25-13 third-set loss.
“I’m frustrated,” Jacobson said. “Things weren’t coming together for us. Volleyball is not a quiet sport, so when we start to get quiet, it’s a ricochet effect. More people get quiet. We’re looking for people to step up and show the energy consistently from the moment they start until the end of the match. Consistency is what we’re missing overall.”
Jacobson isn’t used to losing as a player or a coach. The River Ridge graduate and four-year volleyball player helped the Hawks reach their first state tournament and a third-place trophy in 1995.
She and the coaching staff understood the challenge in front of them when they took over the program. River Ridge won just one game last year, two the year prior, and three in 2023. The Hawks surpassed 2025’s win total three games into this season but have struggled since, securing just one set win in their past five games.
“I’m reminding myself that we’re learning this season. It’s all about learning, and we’re building. As long as we’re learning, then we’re winning,” Jacobson said. “We can make mistakes, but let’s try to make different mistakes and learn from those opportunities.”
Collins-Howard finished with eight kills, nine digs, two blocks and an ace. Kristina Stupina was a perfect 10 for 10 on serves with two aces, seven digs and nine assists. Sofia Lie tallied 14 digs and one ace, and Aspen Lamar totaled five kills, six digs and one ace.
River Ridge (2-6, 1-5 Puget Sound League) will look to snap the losing streak against Lakes (4-2, 4-1 PSL) in Lakewood Thursday, Oct. 1.
