JEFFERSON TWP — During the heat of the summer, Kennedy Christy and Hannah Rowe spent hours peppering each other with a volleyball.

Back and forth. Relentlessly. Competitively. Making each other better.

“It was so hot out,” Christy said, smiling. “I remember that.”

But to the Knoch duo, the elements didn't matter. They were doing what they love to do.

Volleyball touches every aspect of their lives.

Juniors who can excel in the front row as well as in the back row, Christy and Rowe were named Butler Eagle Girls Volleyball Co-Players of the Year.

Seneca Valley sophomore setter Sarah White, Butler all-around star Maria Lucas and Knoch setter Kerrie Fitzpatrick were also considered.

But Christy and Rowe were hard to pass over because of their exceptional numbers — which were also strikingly similar:

Kills: Christy, 293; Rowe, 290.

Blocks: Christy, 67; Rowe, 57.

Digs: Rowe, 358; Christy, 335.

“Competitive,” said Knoch volleyball coach Diane Geist of the duo. “(Kennedy) is very competitive. She doesn't get down when you correct her. She makes the people around her better, the way she plays, the way she hustles.

“Hannah, same way. Competitive. She's probably a little more of a perfectionist. She wants to do it the right way, but also she makes everyone better around her as well.”

Christy and Rowe light the competitive fire in each other in everything they do, especially in practice where one is always trying to top the other.

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“We always work hard in practice because of that factor,” Christy said.

“It's a good thing,” Rowe added. “We're both trying to make each other better.”

The conversation the two elite players have never strays too far from volleyball, even away from the court.

Close friends, the two have a common bond in a sport they love.

“We do a lot of volleyball talk,” Rowe said, chuckling, “because basically it's our whole life now.”

Rowe was a standout in track in field as a high jumper, rising from an unknown to WPIAL champion in the event during her freshman season.

She also was a key member of the Knoch girls basketball team.

But Rowe decided this year to eschew those two sports and focus solely on volleyball.

It was by no means an easy decision and it's one she still grapples with from time to time.

“Especially when each of the sports come around, like basketball season (now),” Rowe said. “Playing club (volleyball) will help. I really did enjoy track, but I think my heart was in volleyball the most.

“I think about it (playing those sports again),” Rowe added. “But I definitely want to stick with volleyball just because it's definitely what I want to do in college. I think solely focusing on it will better me in the future.”

Christy and Rowe have both made major strides since they cracked the varsity lineup at Knoch.

This season, both of their roles were expanded because of the loss of a slew of seniors from a state championship team in 2017.

Both embraced their new responsibilities.“We both definitely had to work on it,” Christy said of expanding her skill set. “My freshman year, I only hit. Last year, she only hit. Now we're at a point we can be trusted in the front row and in the back row.”Geist said both players put in extra work to improve in all aspects of their game before this season, as well as during it.“They were going to play back row no matter what,” Geist said. “Kennedy got better last year at it and you could see Hannah really wanted to play back row and she set her mind to it.“Sometimes players will stay after practice and if Kennedy stays, she wants to play defense,” Geist added. “She's not staying there to hit. She's staying there to get hit at. She likes that challenge.”The duo is also eager to embrace the next challenge ahead.Getting back to the top of the volleyball mountain.In the PIAA 3A semifinals this month, Knoch was ousted by Warren to end a 48-match winning streak.“It happened, but I was like, 'No, it didn't happen,'” Christy said of the loss. “Me, Hannah and Kerrie — we all just broke down because it was Kerrie's last game with us.”Rowe, always an emotional player, was also hit hard by the defeat.“It was obviously a tough loss — no one likes to lose, especially us,” Rowe said. “We were on a 48-game winning streak, but I think it taught us there's always someone better than you.”Christy said the loss will stick with her and her returning teammates — everyone but Fitzpatrick is back next year.“I think it lit a fire the day we lost,” Christy said. “It was, 'We're going to come back better next year than we were this year.' I think it kept us humble because when you win that many games in a row you don't really remember what it's like to lose. Then you lose and you realize we're not the best anymore. You have to work to be the best. It's motivation for next year to get back on top.”