Ramstein's Jazzmyn Hall sets for a teammate's attack during an Oct. 6, 2023, match against the Raiders at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Kaiserslautern coach Zac Robinson had his concerns heading into Friday evening’s match against Ramstein.

The crosstown rivals had met six days prior, splitting a pair of matches on the Royals’ home floor. One of those matches went five sets, with one set’s tiebreaker seeing both squads reach more than 30 points.

After that emotional rollercoaster, Robinson couldn’t help but wonder how things were to go during the rubber match at Kaiserslautern High School.

“OK, how are we going to play just six days later? How are we going to be with our emotions?” Robinson said of his thoughts ahead of Friday’s match.

Following a 25-22, 25-18, 25-12 win, it’s safe to say Robinson’s worries were unfounded.

The victory marked the fourth time in the last five matches Kaiserslautern (7-2, 6-2) has come out on top. The run has the Raiders shooting themselves up the Division I standings with defending champion Wiesbaden and Ramstein (7-2, 4-2).

It took some time for the team to put everything together, according to Robinson, because while the roster holds four seniors, many of them didn’t have the experience last year’s DODEA European runner-up did.

“It was all a really new team this year,” junior middle blocker Mariska Campbell said. “We started finally getting really connected. You can tell off the court and on the court.”

On the court Friday, Campbell and the Raiders net presence was obvious. Campbell amassed seven blocks, while Kaiserslautern recorded five block-points.

The Royal hitters struggled to get around Campbell, sophomore Mia Hahn, sophomore transfer Rozlynn Onnen and others.

“I’m very proud of our front row,” said Campbell, who also slammed five kills in the win. “All the girls work really hard every practice.”

Campbell received plaudits from her coach after the match. Robinson described one stretch in which she blocked a ball and followed it up immediately by throwing down a mishit pass, causing the coach to turn to and tell the bench that Campbell was “dangerous” at the net.

Raider Moriah Deane dinks the ball over Ramstein's Jasmine Jones duirng an Oct. 6, 2023, match at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Raider players Mariska Campbell, left, and Libbie Bergeron try to block an attack by Ramstein's M.J. Davis during a match on Oct. 6, 2023, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Brooklyn Vaovasa serves during the Royals' match against crosstown rival Kaiserslautern on Oct. 6, 2023, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Raider Kezley Kai bumps the ball during an Oct. 6, 2023, match against Ramstein at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Watching, at left, is Raider libero Marisa Branch. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Another player who caught Robinson’s praise was Hahn.

The sophomore, who has made the leap from JV to varsity this season, took control midway through the first set. She smacked a kill to give Kaiserslautern a lead it didn’t relinquish at 10-9 and proceeded to have three more, including the final point to stop a Ramstein rally. Hahn also had two blocks over that stretch.

Those kills were Hahn’s only four of the match, but her coach said it showed her continued growth.

“She just keeps surprising me,” Robinson said. “I thought maybe she’s going to get a little playing time (this season). Then, I’m like, ‘Oh, she’s going to get a lot of playing time.’ She’s a significant part of our team, and she did a great job in that first game.”

After beginning the season with seven wins, the Royals have hit a rough patch over the past week.

On Friday, Ramstein never seemed to get a rhythm, stringing together a run of four or more points just twice with the longest of five occurring at the beginning of the second set. The Royals also didn’t hold a lead after midway through the second set at 15-13.

Coach Kandel Baxter mentioned the Royals’ setter, Jazmyn Hall, is coming off an injury while M.J. Davis left the match late Friday with another injury. Still, she didn’t use them as excuses for what she described as a flat performance.

It’s something Ramstein will have to fix heading into the European tournament later this month, she said.

“We have two and a half weeks until Euros, so we have a lot of things to work on,” Baxter said. “Obviously communication and teamwork are some of them. You can’t play this game without your teammates.”