The volleyball team with a rough start to the season is holding out hope for a great Sectional run now in the 3A class. 

The team faces Bishop Chatard on Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m.

“Against Bishop Chatard, we’re going to do okay. I think we’re going to improve and learn from our last games. We now know what and what not to do,” senior Karissa Harris, outside hitter, said. 

There is always room improvement, even while doing good. 

“Against Bishop Chatard, I think we will do okay. We definitely have been improving from our last games,” junior Victoria Ortman, outside hitter, said.

Putting in the hard work to get better will pay off. 

“I think that it could be a good match. I think that we could definitely get better before Sept. 28 and improve a lot before then,” sophomore Melisa Tefenlili, right side, said.

Motivating seniors can help.

“We have been working a lot at practice and just trying to build that team leadership and playing skills. We all have been working and preparing on that, and the seniors have been helping us with our skills,” freshman Kylie Sommers, middle hitter, said.

Watching a team play ahead of time can help the team know what they are going up against. 

“That’s actually a team we haven’t really played before. They came to our tournament last year. I think that we could match up pretty well against them. I feel like we have pretty similar teams. We have different strengths and weaknesses,” Coach Zach Mackie said.

Pushing athletes to be their best is a great thing to have. 

“Based on who comes into the school each year, I feel like since last year they stoked up the roster pretty quickly, but I feel really good about our chances,” Athletic Director Mike Campbell said.

Nominating captains who encourage players to be their best is important.

“They’re always staying loud and keeping us motivated because at the end of the day that’s what they are nominated to do. They’re always talking during practices and games. At practices they explain things we were confused about and never leave us hanging on instructions we might not understand,” Tefenlili said.

Being an underclassman can stir up different feelings. 

“Coming in as a freshman, it’s been nerve wracking yet also exciting. Getting a feel of the high school sports. My sister is also on the team so it’s been fun being around her a lot,” Sommers said. 

A team’s biggest competition can be exactly the same as them. 

“Our biggest competition would be Whiteland just because they’re on the same playing level as us and they’re right next to us. It’s always a good game to watch and play,”  Harris said.

The most fun games to watch are the most competitive ones. 

“Our biggest competition is definitely Whiteland because we are on the same playing level as them and it’s a rough game. There’s not one moment where everyone on the court isn’t giving it 110 percent,” Ortman said.

A team trying their hardest and not winning is not always a loss. 

“I think our biggest competition is Franklin Community. We definitely try our hardest in those games. They’re so high in our competition and they’re so good and it makes us very nervous but it’s the best we have played all season because we are trying to get to their level,” Tefenlili said.

Rivalries can last as many years as needed. 

“We just played Whiteland, and that was a tough game. I wish we could play them every game just because it’s always competitive. It doesn’t matter which year it is. I think that Whiteland is probably the big game for us,” Coach Mackie said.