By Lee Davis
Oak Mountain outside hitter Torie Denkers is a study in intensity every time she walks on a volleyball court.
But there’s something about playing arch-rival Spain Park that brings her to an even higher level.
“My older brother Trevor went there (Spain Park) years ago, so I think there’s the sibling rivalry thing going,” Denkers said last week. “Whatever it is, I always get pretty jacked up when we play them.”
Indeed, the Lady Eagles and Lady Jaguars have one of the most contested rivalries in all of Over the Mountain volleyball. The two programs have virtually an even split against each other in matches since 2004.
So perhaps it’s no wonder Denkers turned in one of the best performances of her high school career against Spain Park on Sept. 22. She chalked up 13 kills and three digs in leading Oak Mountain to a 25-22, 25-20 and 25-16 win over the highly ranked Lady Jags.
“It was one of those times where everything worked for us,” Denkers said. “That game would probably rank as one of my biggest thrills since I started playing for Oak Mountain.”
The Eagles’ season has had its share of highlights so far, as the team entered October with a 19-11 record. Denkers, a junior, likes much of what she sees.
“The goal of this team is to get better every day,” she said. “We’ve learned the hard way that you can’t overlook any opponent. We made that mistake a couple of times earlier in the season and it didn’t go well. To (be) the best team possible, we have to play with the same level of focus every night.”
In her personal game, Denkers is trying to improve her timing with Oak Mountain’s setters to be an even more imposing presence on offense.
“It’s all about getting the ball just right,” she explained. “Not too high or too low. I prefer it on the lower side, so I can get into position. Practice and teamwork is what is needed to get it right.”
Obviously Denkers isn’t a one-girl show. Other contributors include Keller Lovvorn, Kaitlyn Lund, Kathryn Beard, Brianna Palmer, Madeline Moss, Ashley Treace, Lauren Price, Mollie Wade, Makenzie Warren, Kendall Scharbert and Jacoby Sims.
Denkers comes by her athletic talents naturally. Her brother Trevor was a state champion javelin thrower at Spain Park and earned a scholarship to the University of Alabama. Ironically, volleyball was barely on Torie’s athletic radar until her middle school years.
“I was mainly a softball and basketball girl,” she recalled. “I was determined I was going to be a great softball player. But then I added volleyball and soon it became my favorite.”
With the volleyball post-season just around the corner, Denkers has her mind on being a part of school history. Oak Mountain has never won a state championship in the sport and Denkers wants to bring the big blue trophy to her school’s gleaming hardware case.
“Winning the state is the main thing we’ve been pushing for and is our thoughts as we work so hard in practice and in games,” she said. “We are ready to bring home that trophy.”
If intensity is enough, Torie Denkers and her teammates may well get there.
