After wrapping up a solid regular season, the volleyball team is now preparing for the first round of the playoffs. With a focus on consistent play and teamwork, they’re looking to carry their momentum into the postseason and take things one match at a time.

“We had a great start to the season early on, and throughout the entire season, our team was very successful as a whole. I also think that our chemistry as teammates and players was key,” senior Sophie Piller said.

This year, the team consisted of many upperclassmen athletes who had played together for years and had developed a strong bond with one another. We also had many lower-classmen on the team who have now built a relationship with the older girls and can learn from what the team has achieved so far, as well as strive to accomplish.

“Our teamwork and how we connect on the court and off have a lot to do with our performance during a game. If we are all happy and excited to play and to see each other, work hard and do good things, we have a much better outcome in the game,” senior Isabella Rogers said.

Being excited for your teammate and lifting them up can make a big difference. Even when struggles occur, like coaching changes during the season, with a good team that has your back, you can push through.

“We lost our coach, so that was a struggle, and readjusting to everything new, but we overcame it because of how close we were, and we didn’t let it affect us. We all supported each other and were there for each other,” junior Nora Knaak said.

The team has practiced extensively over the course of this season to prepare mentally and make sure that our athletes continue to go into each game with a good mindset as well as good technicality, and have good blocking and passing.

“We have had about thirty games, and we have won the majority of them in the regular season. Our biggest thing that we need to work on is the little things and not letting anything come in the way of what’s next, always focus on the next play and what’s ahead,” Piller said.

The team has made it to a good position as a team and hopes to go all the way. There are usually about five playoff games before a team reaches the State Championship.

“If we win this game, then we’re pretty sure we will be playing at Greater Atlanta Christian on Saturday for the second round of the state playoffs. But it just depends on where Christian Heritage stands. If they were to lose, we could potentially host at home for the second round,” Piller said.