This past season, the volleyball teams had an up and down year that ended with a third place finish in the Suburban East Conference and a district tournament loss to Westminster. The team hopes to avoid another season like this, by holding offseason training opportunities for players.

Twice a week the team meets in the Center for skill development and conditioning.

“Mostly, we do ab workouts and some weight lifting,” junior Nikki Tomova said. Tomova will return as a three-year varsity starter next season.

Open gyms each Thursday provide the team with an additional opportunity to improve on skills. Practice with serving and hitting are stressed and are more attended than weight training.

“For the weight training, sometimes only a few people show up,” said junior Bridget Dougan, who will begin her third year on varsity next fall.

“I play soccer along with a few other people which makes attending difficult,” said junior Katie Marvel, another third year player. “Since the open gyms are in the evening, I am usually able to make it. I have found that my serving has improved a lot since the end of the season.”

With all the hard work put it in this offseason, the team has high hopes for next season.

“I hope next year we are more of a ‘family’,” Dougan said. “Selfishly, I want to be a captain. Hopefully by coming to all the workouts, the team will recognize my hard work and vote for me.”

Marvel wants to have her best all-around year yet. “It is going to be my last year so I want to do whatever is going to help the team win. These workouts will surely help.”

Tomova expects a district championship.

“Last season we had the talent to [win the district championship], but just did not reach our potential,” Tomova said.