Sargent High School Volleyball Season Preview

Sargent High School's volleyball team is gearing up for an exciting and challenging season. After dropping from the 2A division to 1A, the team's main goal this year is to win the Southern Peaks League championship for the second consecutive year and to have success at the regional and state level. Coach Sami Cotten and her team are focused on mental toughness, increasing their volleyball IQ, and consistency to achieve this goal. One of the keys to the team's success will be the top returning players from last season. Reese Anderson, a junior, was First Team All-Conference last year and is also a team captain. She is expected to have a big year offensively and defensively. Kandace Pargin, Kimmy Pargin, Catie Deacon, and Makenzie Consaul are all sophomores who contributed to the team last season and are expected to have another strong year. Makayla Brown, the only returning senior, will unfortunately miss the season due to a third torn ACL and MCL. However, Coach Cotten is grateful to have her on the bench as a student coach, providing support and knowledge to the team. In terms of team leadership, Bella Anderson, a freshman, has already stepped up and is showing potential to be a captain. Coach Cotten looks for qualities such as consistency, communication, and leadership when choosing team captains. She believes that a strong leadership team helps to create team chemistry and camaraderie, which are important for a successful season. The current captains for this year are Reese Anderson, Kandace Pargin, and Makayla Brown (student coach). To motivate her players to push themselves to their full potential, Coach Cotten emphasizes the importance of team bonding and having a close-knit group. The team regularly has team dinners and participates in team bonding activities during practice. These activities create a strong sense of unity and encourage the players to work together towards their goals. Preparing for the upcoming season has been a challenge for the team, especially with the unexpected loss of their only senior, Makayla Brown. However, the girls have responded positively and are using this as motivation to play for her and the rest of their teammates. Coach Cotten's coaching style has not changed significantly from previous seasons, but she is excited to take on new opponents and challenges in the team's new league. The mental aspect of the game is crucial for the team's success, especially as they are a young team.