Hitting a ball over a net seems easy enough. Students may think that volleyball is easy, but the attitude, dedication and stamina are noteworthy. The volleyball team is showing improvement in attitude and record. With new team captains, a completely new lineup and a plethora of new changes, the team is headed in a positive direction.
Along with a new season comes new faces. The volleyball team was joined by seven freshmen this year, who vary in position and skill level. Along with new freshmen, the team gained Assistant Coach Jessie Kennedy. While the team gained some new players, it lost key starters, including previous captain Annabelle Komlos. Because of this, senior Riley Beegle stepped up to take on the role of team captain, along with junior libero Tessa Wright. With two new captains, the team had no idea what to expect this year on and off the court.
“Going into this role [team captain], I was really excited but also very nervous because I want to be the best I can for the other girls,” Beegle said. “It is nice to have someone who gives you that extra push to help everyone through hard games and rough plays.”
During late August, the volleyball team began their preseason conditioning practices, where freshmen were able to acclimate to their new setting, and everyone got a chance to knock off some of the rust. With significant changes in the line-up, the team switched from running a 6-2 offense, where there are six offensive players and two setters, to a 5-1 offense with only five offensive players and one setter. This change caused the team to struggle, but eventually facilitated an environment on the court that permitted them to get many more offensive attacks.
The team took on Lincoln Park for their first game of the year, winning four sets to one. Following the win, the team took on the 3A Ambridge Bridgers. After a hard-fought five-set match, the team pulled off an upset and beat the Bridgers three sets to two, being one of their most notable performances on the court. After two impressive wins, the Bulldogs faced a two-game losing streak, falling to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) and New Brighton. They lost in three sets to the Chargers and in five sets to the Lions. Following two losses, the team headed to take on Northgate, where they topped the Flames in three sets to none.
“Winning against Ambridge felt amazing, especially after last year’s loss, because it felt like we came back stronger, more determined, and focused,” Anabella Daniele (10) said. “Moving forward, we need to keep on pushing ourselves to get better and better.”
With a 3-2 record for the season, the team is looking at a positive future. Hoping to improve their offense, Head Coach Ms. Becca Pessler is working on increasing the girls’ stamina and strength so that they can put up a stronger fight against tougher teams. While the team is headed into the middle of their season, it is still very early, meaning there is still room for even more improvement. Either way, the Freedom volleyball team will continue to play tough and create an environment where everyone can love playing the sport.
“I’m happy with how the girls are playing together,” Pessler said. “They are positive and work really hard. The biggest thing we need to improve on is our serve-receive and blocking. We just need more consistency in both areas!”