Lady Bobcats to employ new tactics

SUPERIOR – The Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team will bring another aspect to their game for the 2014-2015 season if head coach Beth Janney has anything to say about it.

Janney said with only three returning seniors, it could appear that she will have a somewhat inexperienced team for the upcoming season. She said the team’s experience lies not just with her seniors but with the amount of underclassmen she has to work with.

“We have quite a few juniors coming back,” Janney said. “A lot of the leadership of the team is coming back so that’s very cool. There is also a lot of talent coming back and that’s great. For having such a young team, I was very impressed how they did last year. They learned a lot and I was happy with that.”

For the first practice of the year, last Monday, Aug. 18, the team focused primarily on the fundamentals of the game. Janney said it was the best way to knock the dust from the summer off her young team.

“Our first practice we always start with the basics and getting them back into the game,” Janney said. “I think it’s important they have that solid foundation before moving on to other aspects of the game.”

The team is coming off a year where they were just over 500. for the season and while the coach was happy with how the team competed under those circumstances, she thinks the team can do even better this year. Janney said establishing a sense of family and camaraderie could be the key to bringing home victories.

“One thing we are going to focus on building the team aspect of the game,” Janney said. “We want to build a family. I think it’s important for the young girls to learn that playing sports is a lot more than winning. It’s about being a team.”

One of the things coach Janney wants her players to focus on within the lesson of team-building, is that it takes more than one person to be successful on the volleyball court. While there will always be standout players Janney said she wants her team to play like one and not rely on the individual.

“We want every girl to know how important she is,” Janney said. “Especially in volleyball, it’s so important that you not focus on one star. Every girl is an integral part of the team. Win, lose or whatever happens, that’s how we want to play.”

Members of the audience at a Lady Bobcats volleyball match might notice some changes this year in the style of play as the team is looking to shake things up a bit this year on the court.

“This year we are looking for something new,” Janney said. “I’d like to see our offense be at a little faster pace than we have in the past. They’re a good team. They’re scrappy. They don’t let a lot of balls touch the floor. I’m excited to see what they do this year.”

The Lady Bobcats start their season in Alberton on Sept. 9 and do not have a home game until they play Two Eagle River on Oct. 11.