For the first time in school history, the volleyball team (21-3) has claimed the rank of number one in both the DFW area and the state.
Although the rank is special, it does not compare to the continual growth and hard work the girls still put into each game and practice according to head coach Eighmy Dobbins.
“Obviously rankings are fun and it’s great that we are ranked high but it’s not everything,” Dobbins said. “I’m glad the girls are getting the recognition they deserve because of a strong preseason. But we’re just using that as motivation to move along and get better for playoffs.”
For the girls, it is an exciting experience.
However, they still set high expectations for themselves to put in lots of effort for each game.
“It’s definitely a lot of added pressure because every team plays their best game against us,” senior Jaiden Harris said. “But it’s obviously awesome and a huge honor to be ranked first so I think everyone is excited and makes them work harder”
Playing in one of the toughest regions in the state, the team has different strategies to ensure they play their best game.
“For each game, we watch a lot of film on the team we’re playing and kinda figure out what we wanna focus in for that game,” Dobbins said. “We also look at the previous game and see what we struggled with and what went well so we can set a goal for our next game on how we’re gonna get better. So every game were focused on what the other team did well and what we want to work on so we can get to a 100% for playoffs”
These strategies help the players play their best game physically,
However there is also a mental component they bring into each game.
“We have a mindset of doing out best and not letting the little mistakes affect us,” senior MacLane Mercer said. “ So we go off the game plan and try to do our best with the scouting and practice.”
For some of the team’s seniors, not much has changed from last year’s playoff run… except for one thing.
“I think our mindset is the same from last year that we wanna win,” senior Maddie LaGrone said. “But I think this year we’re more disciplined and that’s what makes us succeed.”
