Patrick Henry High School Volleyball Season Preview

As the fall sports season approaches, it is an exciting time for the girls' volleyball team at Patrick Henry High School. Varsity coach David Chau has high hopes for the team this year as they aim to compete for a league title and even a CIF championship. In this preview article, we will take a closer look at the team and what we can expect from them this season. One of the team's biggest strengths this year is the return of 10 varsity players, with the majority of them being juniors and sophomores. This experience and depth will be crucial in helping the team be successful this season. Among the returning players, two stand out as potential game-changers for the team - senior middle blocker Addie Shea and junior outside hitter Alyssa Chu. Coach Chau considers both of these players as veterans, having played on varsity for three years now. They have shown their ability to lead the team both offensively and defensively and will be key players in achieving the team's goals this year. Chu was one of the most consistent players in serve receive last season, while Shea led the team in blocks. With these two players leading the way, the team looks to have a strong presence at the net both offensively and defensively. When asked about any new players who might make an immediate impact, Coach Chau mentioned that most of the additions to the team will be juniors. However, he believes that these players have the potential to contribute and make a difference on the court. With a mix of returning players and new additions, the team has a good balance of experience and potential. In terms of his coaching style, Coach Chau does not believe in focusing on specific teams. In the highly competitive league and division that they are in, the team will have to bring their best effort every game if they want to come out on top. This approach ensures that the team is focused on their own performance and improvement, rather than getting caught up in the hype of a particular opponent. One area where the team has been working on is the mental aspect of the game. As Coach Chau pointed out, they may not be the biggest team in terms of size, so it is important for them to play with confidence and aggression. This means focusing on building mental toughness and resilience, which is essential in a sport like volleyball where the momentum can change in an instant.