With new coach Amanda McCoy and a 9-11 regular season record, the volleyball team made this season’s focus learning.  

Junior Keely Doyle set a personal record for the most kills in one game this season. She has noticed a substantial improvement from last year.

“We’re definitively playing better against teams that crushed us last year. You can definitely see the improvement.

She thinks the difference in coaching style is the reason behind the team’s improvement.

“Last year, volleyball was pretty laid back. Our coach, she wanted to play everybody,” said Doyle. “This year, our coach is really intense. She does whatever she can to help us win.”

McCoy is adapting the team to a new style of volleyball.

“We are working towards a more faster tempo and current style of volleyball,” said McCoy. “We are moving away from each hitter only running one play the entire match.”

McCoy has made improving a priority over winning.

“In the beginning of the season we sort of made a goal that we weren’t going to concentrate on wins and losses, but really focus on basic skill development and improving ourselves as individuals and as a team” said McCoy.

Sophomore Hannah Berlin explained that, for the Lord Botetourt game, McCoy had each girl choose someone who inspires them and dedicate the game to that person.

“[She] told us to choose someone who means a lot to us that would be at the game and work our hearts out for them,” said Berlin. “I chose my dad, because he’s been there literally forever for me and he inspires me to be what I am.”

According to the players, the team has gotten better at working together and communicating during games, but they still have room for improvement. Their goals for this season are to beat Northside and Lord Botetourt.

“I think as a team we played well. We still have to pick up the communication but we definitely could have played better, but it was better than the last time we played [Lord Botetourt],” said Berlin

Rockbridge fell to Lord Botetourt after losing three straight sets.