Any sort of sibling rivalry between Rylie and Zoey Carlson, who are Newark’s top two attackers, isn’t evident when they’re playing matches together.
It’s all business for the Carlson sisters during the season. They don’t even really discuss stats or anything like that when they’re at home.
No, their rivalry exists on other spots of the court.
“I feel like we are really competitive in practice because we’re always on opposite sides,” Rylie said. “We’re always competing against each other over there.”
That aspect is doing nothing but benefitting the Norsemen again this season.
Rylie, a junior outside hitter, and Zoey, a sophomore middle hitter, notched seven kills apiece Thursday night in a 25-16, 25-19 nonconference win over Rosary in Aurora.
The Carlson sisters entered the match tied for the team lead in kills. They now each have 156.
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Tessa Kot added three kills, two aces and two blocks for Newark (18-4). Dannon Marshall led Rosary (3-12) with six kills and a block.
Newark coach PJ McKinney knows where his team’s bread is buttered this season.
“It’s probably no secret where we get our attack,” McKinney said. “I feel like if we get one-on-ones with them, we’re going to be hard to beat. They’re opposite, so we always have one of them in the front row. We worked on that this summer.
“This year, I put them opposite to try to balance out the lineup.”
The unique thing about the pair of offensive stars is they are sisters. It’s not something that gets past opponents.
“I think it’s fun,” Rylie Carlson said. “I feel like everyone just knows that we’re sisters, I don’t know. It’s just fun playing together. I like it.”
Since they’re not in the front row together anymore, Newark’s offense goes in ebbs and flows between them. Case in point, early in Thursday’s win, Zoey Carlson had three kills during her first turn through the front row and Rylie Carlson contributed two as the Norsemen built a 10-6 lead.
The difference is on the defensive end. Rylie is a true six-rotation player, performing well at serve receive and passing. Before, Zoey didn’t play in the back row. She’s getting worked into that part of the lineup and for good reason. McKinney doesn’t want her to have to leave the court.
“I’ve never really played back row ever,” Zoey said. “It’s been something new.
“I definitely look at (Rylie) when she’s in the back row.”
It’s a work in progress for Zoey, but McKinney wants to see it through for the potential benefits of his team.
“Rylie is a really good all-around player,” McKinney said. “She’s usually lights out. Defensively, she’s great. Zoey is learning. She didn’t play any back row last year. We put her in the back row a little bit.
“That’s a work in progress. It’s good to have her on the floor with that leadership.
Another reason to teach her that skill is that if they Norsemen ever need a crucial point, why not go to the team’s co-leaders?
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“It’s hard to take them off the floor, that’s kind of why,” McKinney said. “If we ever need a point, we can set them on the back row.”
McKinney quickly pointed out the play of Kot, freshman outside hitter Mya Wesseh and senior setters Ella Bromeland and Taylor Jeffers for their contributions to the success of the team.
At center stage, however, are the Carlson sisters.
“They don’t like to lose,” McKinney said. “They want the ball in their hands, especially at crunch time. They’re complemented well by everyone else, but it’s no secret.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.