Olivia Zettervall – Athlete of the Week – October 18, 2019

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The back-to-back Division II State Champion Field Hockey program has seen its fair share of talent throughout the history of the program. Joining the illustrious ranks of incredible talent, this week’s Athlete of the Week, Junior Captain Olivia Zettervall, is underway with her fourth season at the Varsity level. Beginning in Middle School, the Dolphins have watched Zettervall progress into one of the top athletes in not just the Hampton Roads area, but also the State of Virginia. The Ohio State University commit brings an unparalleled enthusiasm to the hallways and turf of Cape Henry Collegiate. Relying on her strong technical play, and a love for the sport, Olivia Zettervall has led the Dolphins to a 9-4-1 record to this point in the year.

“Olivia ‘Zett’ Zettervall has been our defensive rock in the backfield all season long and continues to be a leader on and off the field,” Head Coach Kate Kinnear said of Olivia Zettervall. “With her positive attitude, superior work ethic, and technical skills, she has proven she is one of the top players in the area and the state.”

Already a four-year contributor to the Varsity Field Hockey program at Cape Henry Collegiate, Olivia Zettervall currently ranks in the top-fifteen all-time point leaders with 64 career points. Beginning as an 8th Grade student-athlete, Zettervall as produced no less than nine points in her four-year tenure on Varsity Field Hockey. In her junior year, the Varsity Field Hockey captain will undoubtedly climb the all-time points list with one full year remaining the Cape Henry Collegiate Field Hockey Program.

“Last week in our games versus Deep Creek and Nansemond Suffolk, she continued to be the leader in the backfield while starting our attack with dangerous balls out of the back,” Coach Kinnear continued of Zettervall. “In the Norfolk Academy game this week, she maintained composure throughout the night while consistently pushing the attack to generate scoring opportunities despite a 2-1 loss.”

Zettervall’s energy and enthusiasm for Field Hockey show on the field day-in and day-out. Regardless of the event, Olivia shows up with a smile, ready to do whatever she can to be better than the last day. Consistently pushing teammates to do the same, the Ohio State commit is an influential leader for the Dolphins, adding an ever-looming punch out of the backfield.

“Zett has worked very hard on her hitting accuracy and has moved up to become one of our corner hitters,” Coach Kinnear added of Zettervall. “Her decision making out of the back has become better throughout our time together, consistently demonstrating the knowledge of when to go forward and when to be a little more conservative by making the safe pass.”

Consistently improving throughout her time with the Dolphins has shown on the field and in her career statistics. The Junior Captain currently boasts 13 points on the season, adding four goals to her five assists. With three contests remaining in the regular season, Zettervall is poised to surpass her sophomore point totals before carrying the Dolphins into the TCIS and DII State Tournaments. The Dolphins, as a whole, currently sit atop the DII State Rankings and will look to repeat as TCIS Tournament Champions.

The Dolphins are back in action Friday, October 18, to take on Hickory High School beginning at 5:30 pm on Trinder Field. Olivia Zettervall and the rest of the Dolphin Field Hockey program will look to finish the regular season strong before entering tournament play. The Dolphins will lean heavily on Zettervall for the remainder of the season, as Varsity Field Hockey looks for her to continue her stellar junior season.