Last year, the OHS girls varsity volleyball team won regionals for the first time in over a decade. This was a huge accomplishment for the team showing all the hard work and dedication they put forward.
Although the team competed at Sectionals, they lost in a surprising and crushing defeat.
“I think a lot of still feel that burn from losing in Sectionals. It’s not a bad burn, just a desire to win… you can see it in them every day in the gym,” said Varsity Coach Gary Mosley.
The team has been hard at work preparing for this season, expecting to push the limits of last year.
Coach Mosley said they put a lot of preparation “in our summer; we beefed up our camps, we definitely put a lot of time into that.”
According to Coach Mosley, the team has instilled a ton of confidence into each other and has been able to push one another. They know this year will not be any easier than the last and they’re ready to face that.
“ says last year we were hunting, but this year we’re the hunted,” said team Captain Kelsey Foster. “I’m really more excited for this year than scared because the pressure is there because we are so good and I know this team can take pressure and turn it into success.”
The team’s lineup from last year is virtually unchanged, as only a few seniors graduated from last year’s team, so almost everyone feels the pressure to impress this season.
“We have to have the mindset that we are all family and that we can all work together,” said Foster. “We also have to not be cocky from last year.”
The team knows they have to work together to succeed and have to work together even when they fail.
“I think everyone pushes each other. Everyone fits their role and we push each other when we need it,” said team Captain Ava Flanigan. “I think we all feel the same and we all feel each other’s success.”
The girls know that their team is good, and they have a good shot at matching and exceeding last year’s results.
“Our expectation is definitely win conference and sectionals and get further than last year,” said Flanigan.
I am a Senior at OHS and in my second year as a journalist. I am a podcast co-editor and a co-editor in chief and I am excited for my second year being a journalist for the school. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
