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The NS girl’s volleyball team starts the season with solid connections on and off the court.
“We are in a good spot where we are at, and we have the most potential where we are at this year for a state championship,” said senior libero Emily Strait.
This new year and different approaches to the game in this year’s season resulted in the volleyball team having won eleven games and only losing seven so far.
“We are working on the steps so instead of just hitting the ball hard and swinging to get a good kill,” said senior middle blocker, Phaedra Lamb, “I want you to roll shoot to the right corner, and you’re gonna score,’ so I listen to the coach and score.”
Lamb explained that in the past years that she has played, she felt a lot more pressure to play hard and push to get the last five points with a great hit. But this year, it is quite different, with a lot more focus on strategy and focuses on more technical parts of the game.
“It feels like we all have this common goal, and everyone wants to work hard,” assistant coach Jori Turpin said.
The team believes there isn’t anything that is stopping them from practicing hard and doing their best.
“We like to think of it as we get in and we get out,” said Lamb.
They are pushing to really focus and practice hard. There aren’t any distractions like there have been in the past.
“Us as coaches are just really excited for this group this year because they get along really well,” Turpin said, “and support each other and are just such good teammates to each other.”
The girls on the team explained that they aren’t just some girls who spend time together and play a game together. They have created a strong bond.
“[Teamwork] is key to a successful season, and I think that teamwork is a major part of your results. It all depends on your teamwork,” said Strait.
Lamb also explained that it isn’t just a sport to them anymore. When you see someone on the team in the hall or somewhere other than practice, there is always some sort of hi or greeting that connects them. Also, there is a lot of fun and joking around.
This team isn’t made up of the same group of people. There are girls from all sorts of different clubs or organizations. That connection keeps them close and together on and off the court.
“It’s like no other feeling, it’s awesome when everyone is on, and everyone is having a good time,” Strait said. “We are playing our best, and we are just having fun as a team is when we do our best, and I think that’s what makes volleyball so much fun. The teamwork and ethic you put into the sport makes it fun.”
There is just such a diverse group that came together to create this volleyball team.
“We have a pretty good team,” Lamb said. “I mean, it is hard where we’ve had our moment where it is not as good, but we have also learned a lot.”
Having that connection between players also adds a sort of trust and connection. Even if there were some challenges in the beginning, with losing to some teams that the team felt they should have beaten. Also with some possible upcoming challenges or tough competitions, like region or state.
“I feel like our toughest competition will be ourselves, ” Turpin said.
She went on to explain that there isn’t a certain team they are too worried about this year in the region competition, but one of their biggest concerns is themselves. In a past game, against Manti, Turpin explained that a big part in them losing was that they got into their own heads and weren’t playing like themselves.
But on the other hand, one of the most outstanding achievements a team can make is growing together and making it through those tough times and getting better and better.
“I think this season is going to be a perfect one, and I’m excited to see how we end and how we finish,” Strait said.
