Experienced Royals volleyball team seeks more wins
Learning how to win has been the message from Lake Region State College head volleyball coach Brigitte Greywater to her team.
Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal Sports, August 26th, 2016
Learning how to win has been the message from Lake Region State College head volleyball coach Brigitte Greywater to her team.
Coming off a 10-25 season with 10 freshmen and two sophomores, the Royals now have the experience and leadership in place.
LRSC has six returners back from last year's squad along with Carly Boe, who played spring ball with the team. Boe is part of a freshmen class of seven.
"Numbers are higher, which allows for competitive practices," Greywater said. "Players are going deep into positions that they're competing for, so competition is at a much higher level than it has in the past."
With that experience, Greywater said this team is "leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year at this time."
All-conference and all-region setter Hannah Swartz returns with LRSC's top outside hitter Hannah Hextall. Greywater said middle blocker Payton Kritzberger has improved drastically on her blocks and Katie Dufner has transitioned well into being a hitter.
Rebekah Stoe and Jessica Hagen provide plenty of experience in the back row.
"Sophomores are like having more coaches," Greywater said. "The truth is it's really nice to get started with a drill and when someone doesn't understand, there's someone there to take them under their wing and we don't have to stop practices. Everyone finds a way to help that person get to where they need to be in drills. You get through a lot more stuff."
The Royals have had a rigorous schedule to prepare for the season. They have practiced from 8-11 a.m., then lifted and then practiced again from 2-6 p.m. almost every day.
Greywater points to early matches as having a big impact on the season.
"I think we'll compete," Greywater said. "I think we will be nipping on the heels of a conference title. But the biggest thing is learning how to win. If we can learn how to win and build our confidence, we have a shot. I know we have the potential to do it."