A new volleyball season has approached and this year is a big turn around by the addition of a new coach and new techniques. The varsity team has gone through training over the summer with their new coach, Ms. Esmond. They had to attend open gyms and their first year of triples, which is practicing three times a day for about two hours each practice. At the end of the week they had a reward at Hickory Oaks, in Utica, to go camping for team bonding. In a few weeks, the girls had to learn a whole new defense and improve their skills. Senior Natalie H. said, “Learning a new defense has taken a lot of work but it’s been much better for the team.”

Sophomore Olivia M., gave her view on being the youngest girl on the varsity team, “You have to compete with older and more experienced girls. Coach expects you to do as good as everyone else.” While Senior Natalie H. has a different perspective, “As a senior you have to be there for the others to look up to.” Both of these girls have taken on big roles for the team: to be people to look up to and to keep pushing themselves.

These girls can both agree that volleyball can be a very mental game. As Olivia would say, “other people help you out and make you happier. Like Ms. Esmond says, ‘Even if you are having a bad day you have to be happy to help everybody out.’”

The Varsity team will play their first regional match Thursday October 25th at Aurora Central Catholic versus Hampshire. Come to cheer the girls on to a victory.