The Varsity Volleyball players huddle together as Coach Beth Wills calls for a second time out. Ears open and minds focused, the girls hang onto every word that comes out of her mouth.

“We have had our ups and downs but as we enter district play, I believe we have a great chance of finishing at the top,”  Head Coach Beth Wills said.

Last season, the team made it to the playoffs but lost the first game.

“We didn’t get far because of (a) lack of communication,” senior Bry Lawrence said.

According to Lawrence, the team was under a lot of pressure.

“For most of us, it was our first time going to playoffs,” she said.

Wills said the girls must fix minor issues before they progress into a winning team.

“Our consistency must improve in order to be successful in district,” Wills said.  “We are committing too many unforced errors and beating ourselves many times.”

Sophomore Armaria Wright said she needs to work on her speed.

“I need to get faster and learn how to read better,” she said.

The team dynamic has changed, Lawrence said.

“We’ve become a lot closer this season than we were last season,” she said.

Wills said the district is a tough one.

“You cannot afford to take anyone too lightly,”  she said. “Mansfield, Midlothian and Cedar Hill should be our toughest opponents.”

The team has a record of 9:1 in district and 15:10 overall.

“We are working on being tenacious on defense and smart on offense,” she said.

Even in this district, Lawrence is still confident in the team’s abilities.

“Everyone is competition but everyone is also very beatable,”  Lawrence said.

Lawrence said she believes in her team.

“I have faith in our team,” she said. “I feel like we have big things ahead of us.”