Two-time Player of the Year leads Courier & Press All-Metro volleyball team

NEWBURGH, Ind. — Daniel Watson remembers a conversation he had with Katie Kopshever.

The Castle High School volleyball coach told the then-sophomore she wasn't quite ready for varsity and she was going to stay on JV. But there was the possibility she might dress at the varsity level.

Watson could tell Kopshever was a little disappointed in the decision, but indeed she eventually dressed for varsity later that season. It didn't take much longer for her to start and become a rotation player. And it also didn't take long for the now-senior to become one of the best players in program history.

"A lot of other athletes will take news like that, and it defeats them or sets them back," Watson said. "Katie just used it as motivation to fuel her improvement. That's one of my favorite things about her."

Kopshever has built a legendary career with Castle, becoming the third player in program history to reach 1,000 kills. She's tallied 867 over the last two seasons and was among Class 4A's leaders in the category in both years. She played a key role in the Knights still being an elite team in their class and reaching the state championship in two of the last three seasons.

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For her dominance on the court, she's now a two-time Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year, as voted on by the sports staff.

This is the first time a player has received back-to-back honors since Jessica Nunge in 2017-18. Bre Lane was a co-recipient last season along with Kopshever; current University of Southern Indiana player Keira Moore was the 2021 recipient.

Kopshever has enjoyed sharing the floor with Lane and Moore, as well as with Natalie Niehaus, a former All-Metro girls basketball player of the year.

"I looked up to all three of those people since my freshman year," Kopshever said. "They led by example through their actions, not just with words. That's what I really wanted to be this year."

Kopshever was on the receiving end of many of Castle's biggest plays over the last couple of seasons.

When Niehaus was injured in the state championship against McCutcheon, Kopshever stepped up and led the team in kills. She got the match point in the sectional championship against Jasper the following year while dealing with a back injury.

But after the Knights' recent semistate victory against Roncalli, Watson referred to the postseason run Kopshever was having as one of the best in the program's history.

Twice as nice: Castle and Tecumseh clinch IHSAA volleyball semistate titles

Just how dominant was this run, exactly?

Out of the 413 kills she tallied during the season, 124 of them came in the postseason. She tallied 15 or more kills in every match, including 22 in the sectional championship against North, and averaged 5.4 per set.

"I think the accomplishments are great, but the thing I'm going to take away the most from this season is how well we all got together and the love that we have for each other," Kopshever said. "This season has been the best overall as a team that I've ever been on before."

"Katie is so ready to compete at Eastern Illinois," Watson added. "I think that was the luxury I had, a Division I player playing at the Division I level for our high school team. And I think that just speaks to her preparation and her readiness at the next level. And she's playing at that level now."

Kopshever already has a good relationship with her future coach, Sara Thomas, as they talk almost every day. She refers to Thomas as having many similar attributes to Watson, who is her favorite coach.

She'll always have a special place in her heart for Castle volleyball but is more than pumped about this next chapter with the Panthers.

"This has always been my dream and I am so excited," Kopshever said. "I know college volleyball is a completely different level and mindset, and I'm just excited to see what that holds for me."

While Watson refers to Kopshever as one of the top people the Castle program has ever produced, he has just as much high praise for his fellow four seniors: Megan Harpenau, Gretchen Hurt, Kierstin Niehaus and Ella Wood.

"I don't think Katie does what she does without them, and I don't think they can do what they do without her," said Watson, this year's All-Metro Coach of the Year. "That's what I love about how selfless she and these kids have been all season. It's been a truly magical run and they've laid the blueprint for how you can achieve great things."

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Twashington490.

Courier & Press All-Metro Volleyball Team

Name, School, Year, Position

Emma Bruggenschmidt, Castle, So., Outside Hitter

Addisen Gallentine, Castle, Jr., Outside Hitter

Katie Kopshever, Castle, Sr., Outside Hitter

Ava McNair, Harrison, So., Outside Hitter

Addison Sorrell, North, Sr., Outside Hitter

Avery Parris, Memorial, Sr., Middle Hitter

Libby Ryan, North, So., Middle Hitter

Lacy Marx, Mater Dei, Jr., Libero

Elsie McCutchan, North, Sr., Libero

Kierstin Niehaus, Castle, Sr., Libero

Reegan Buck, Memorial, Jr., Setter

Taylor Georgette, Reitz, Sr., Setter

Megan Harpenau, Castle, Sr., Setter

Brooke Herdes, Mater Dei, Jr., Setter

Maya Joska, Castle, Jr., Setter

Player of the Year: Katie Kopshever, Castle

Coach of the Year: Daniel Watson, Castle

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA volleyball: Courier & Press reveals 2023 All-Metro team