Last year’s 16-17 record wasn’t good enough for Jannell Deville’s Park Hill Volleyball team. For a program that usually sees more success, a disappointing season allowed for some deep reflection coming into this year.
“There has been a lot that has come up ever since March when we started having meetings and through the summer,” Deville said.
Seven players return this season with varsity experience, six of which are seniors. Seniors Kelsey Borgardts, Alex Leggett, Sam Nowakowski, Kathleen Hardy, Heather Schieber, Shelby Smith, and junior Allysa Moran are back to build on last season’s performance. All will be making contributions this year in the starting line-up with the addition of sophomore libero Halley Knudson.
Their coach has put the pressure on the seniors to make the difference between a successful season or not. Focus has been aimed at team unity as a whole and not individual achievement.
“It’s going to be how they lead the team this season, how they play with a sense of urgency, and how they work hard to get the best out of each other,” said Deville about her seniors.
She talked about how they have worked with their players to not only perform athletically, but to be mentally tough as well to keep their attitudes and goals in check.
“We aren’t a tall team so this type of attitude will help create success,” Deville said.
With rival Park Hill South considered an early favorite in the conference, Park Hill feels they can compete this year and that it really comes down to who can get the job done night to night. With many of the conference match-ups being competitive and resulting in splits between teams last year, the Trojans see an opportunity this year to fulfill some of their main goals including a 20-plus win season, which will give the team an opportunity to meet one of their other goals, which is to put Park Hill back on the competitive volleyball map.
“There has been a lot that has come up ever since March when we started having meetings and through the summer,” Deville said.
Seven players return this season with varsity experience, six of which are seniors. Seniors Kelsey Borgardts, Alex Leggett, Sam Nowakowski, Kathleen Hardy, Heather Schieber, Shelby Smith, and junior Allysa Moran are back to build on last season’s performance. All will be making contributions this year in the starting line-up with the addition of sophomore libero Halley Knudson.
Their coach has put the pressure on the seniors to make the difference between a successful season or not. Focus has been aimed at team unity as a whole and not individual achievement.
“It’s going to be how they lead the team this season, how they play with a sense of urgency, and how they work hard to get the best out of each other,” said Deville about her seniors.
She talked about how they have worked with their players to not only perform athletically, but to be mentally tough as well to keep their attitudes and goals in check.
“We aren’t a tall team so this type of attitude will help create success,” Deville said.
With rival Park Hill South considered an early favorite in the conference, Park Hill feels they can compete this year and that it really comes down to who can get the job done night to night. With many of the conference match-ups being competitive and resulting in splits between teams last year, the Trojans see an opportunity this year to fulfill some of their main goals including a 20-plus win season, which will give the team an opportunity to meet one of their other goals, which is to put Park Hill back on the competitive volleyball map.
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