Washington head coach Kelly Slade has been named Conference Coach-of-the-Year for the second time in as many years for her team’s performance during the regular season, the Eastern Plains Conference Committee announced last week.

“It feels like hard work really does pay off,” Slade said. “I spent a lot of time in the summer with the girls and a lot of time after school. It’s just nice that our hard work shows.”

Slade navigated her team to a 9-1 conference record and a 17-8 finish overall. The Pam Pack went on to win the Eastern Plains Conference regular season championship and the conference tournament, while making it to the second round of the Class 2-A state tournament.

After beginning the season 3-6, Washington went on to win 13 of 14 matches, good enough to earn a No. 8 seed in the postseason. It was a late-season run defined by the dominant play of hitters Abby Walker and Adriana Tyson, paired with Sarah Lynch and Briley Waters, two sophomore setters who were rotated in unison — two sophomore setters who quickly became some of the best in the conference.

Slade kept the starting lineup steady, even through the tough start, trusting in her five seniors to lead the team, while also rotating in a supporting cast that improved as the season went on.

“This is the most special group that I’ve coached,” Slade said. “I know part of it is that I’ve coached them for the last five years and we’ve been together for five years, since I was at P.S. Jones their first year. We’ve just all become really close and they truly have helped build the program at Washington High School, as far as volleyball goes. Without those girls, our program wouldn’t be where it’s at right now.”

Off the bench, names like Meghan Moore and Charity Gardner became integral to Slade’s game plan and molded a relationship with Lynch and Waters, one that Slade hopes continues.

Even with the loss of five starters, including Tyson, who led the team in virtually every offensive category, Slade has high hopes for next year.

“I’ve tried to consider next year and with my two sophomore setters and Meghan Moore coming up, I think we’re going to give the conference a run for their money and try to repeat,” Slade said. “It’s going to take some hard work, but we definitely have the necessary tools to do it.”