Sunnyvale High School Volleyball Season Preview

As the start of a new high school volleyball season approaches, many eyes are turning to the team at Sunnyvale High School. With a strong core group of returning players and the addition of some promising new talent, the team is poised to make a statement this year. I had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Kim Smith to get a preview of what we can expect from Sunnyvale High's volleyball team this season. First and foremost, I asked Coach Smith which new players she believes will make an immediate impact on the team. She replied, "We return 10 varsity players from last year's team. Both our middle blockers, Senior Alli McAda and Junior Destiny Arinze, will be back on the court. We also have the return of Junior Leah Devaraj as an outside hitter, and we will be moving Junior Chiora Enyinna-Okeigbo from the right-side hitter to the outside. Additionally, we have our two setters, Senior Abigail Encinia and Junior Olivia Phan, coming back this year. These six players saw significant playing time last season, and their experience alone makes them extremely valuable entering this season." The experience and leadership of these returning players will undoubtedly be a huge asset to the Sunnyvale High team. But what qualities does Coach Smith look for in potential team captains? She responded, "I look for players who have a strong work ethic, great communication skills, and can lead by example. Currently, Junior Anna Mitchell is expected to make an immediate impact as our libero this season. She was a regular on our court last season as a DS, but this year she will carry the bulk of the responsibility." As for the team's schedule this season, Coach Smith acknowledges that it will not be an easy road. She says, "We graduated several key players last season, including two big hitters on the front row and two key defensive players. Replacing the production we had on both sides of the ball is our biggest challenge moving forward this season." However, she also notes that the team will use this challenge as motivation and is looking forward to some tough opponents on the schedule. "We are ready to face these strong teams and showcase our abilities," she adds. But it's not just about skill and talent on the court. Coach Smith recognizes the importance of off-court training and conditioning as well.