As the ref blows their whistle, the game begins. Balls fly over the net and teammates read each other’s calls. This is the start of a winning season.
With a total of four volleyball teams and 21 opponents to go, the girls are proving that their preparation is paying off after winning their first game.
One step to having a successful season is being in a good headspace.
“(An important part is) not getting down on yourself and getting out of the mental slumps that you always get in… the coaches do have a big role in that,” sophomore Ryleigh Kooyers said.
Besides the coaches being a big part of staying mentally healthy, their teammates contribute as well. To build the player’s bonds, the Varsity team went to Austin for a team building tournament.
“They ate every meal together, played together, danced together, and swam together,” coach William Jenkins said.
The team got to know each other a great deal over this trip but they still want to maintain that camaraderie.
“[The best part was] getting to know everybody off the court and seeing their true personalities,” sophomore Lily Singletary said.
According to the players, having a strong bond with teammates is important for the upcoming games. Magnolia West is considered to be tough competition so the teams are preparing.
“They have a lot of really good players and they have been good in past seasons,” Singletary said.
In the end, one goal remains true for all teams: win district. For varsity, the plan is to go even further.
“Our most important goal for this year would be to make the playoffs,” Jenkins said.
