Coach hopes to motivate players with tough love

HOT SPRINGS - The Lady Savage Heat split their two matches last week with a loss to St. Regis in four sets, but came out on top against Two Eagle River in straight sets.

“I was able to play my younger players during the Two Eagle River,” said Head Coach Alicia Pablo. “You never know what they will throw at you and you have to be on your toes.”

The Lady Savage Heat improved their record to 6 - 2 but Pablo was not completely satisfied.

“We haven’t been communicating well as a team,” Pablo said. “This week we need to work on that. During drills if someone is not communicating I’ll kick them out of the drill.”

Coach Pablo thinks putting pressure on the girls to perform is a positive reinforcement.

“I have done it before,” said Pablo. “It leaves my strongest players on the court and makes the other girls communicate on the next drill. They start calling every ball.”

Working toward district competition, Pablo hopes to capitalize on the team’s strengths as well as improve on the team’s weaknesses.

“We control the net well,” said Pablo. “We have some tall girls who love to block. Sometimes it does not always work out and you miss the block or find yourself out of position. It’s a catch 22.”

Not every aspect of the team is strong and Pablo knows they have to work together to improve on their weaknesses.

“Other than communication we need to work on serving,” Pablo said. “We served well against Two Eagle and hope to keep improving on that.”

Pablo knows her team has some scrappers and is ready to fight at the net and work on their passing, setting, and hitting.

“I used to think hitting was the strongest aspect,” said Pablo. “But now I think our scrappy defense is probably what we do best.”

Coach Pablo and her girls have two games this week on the road against Arlee and at home against Superior.

“I haven’t seen Arlee play this year,” Pablo said. “But we need to work on communication, setting, passing, hitting. We need to come out on the attack and get on top quick.”

Keeping good communication throughout the team should make it easier for the Lady Savage Heat attack.

“We have to hit holes,” Pablo said. “St. Regis was a team who would not let the play hit the ground against them.”

St. Regis could be a good learning experience for the Lady Savage Heat as they prepare for district competition come November.

The Arlee match this week could be a preview for the remainder of the season. Two of the six remaining matches are against the Scarlett Warriors. The October 10 matchup is on the road at Arlee at 7 p.m. and the Lady Savage Heat will return for a home match against Superior on October 12 at 6 p.m.