ABOVE: Front row, from left: Brenna Heifner, Courtney Anderson, Emily Schettler, Addy Wohlhuter, Avery Sanders, Bella Fitzgerald. Back row, from left: Ava Paulson, Emily Anderson, Gianna Chase, Meia Schuett, Maddy Carlson, Rowan Faber, Cami Clow. Submitted photo.

TRIMONT – With a veteran squad heading into the season the Martin County West Mavericks are ready to make a break from the middle of the pack.

All but one active player had seen varsity action prior to the season allowing the team to stay competitive for another year.

“I kind of hope that they all take part in being the leadership, so that way they all can have part in being that part of the success of the team,” MCW volleyball head coach Kayla Zehm said. “Even the people on the bench, like they have a role, they have an intention that they’re trying to lead. So really, it’s all hands on deck.”

The Mavericks boast seven senior leaders this year in Avery Sanders, Brenna Heifner, Bella Fitzgerald, Meia Schuett, Emily Anderson, Ava Paulson and Camryn Clow.

The team plans around being competitive even keeping training at a high level of intensity. Running primarily competitive drills against one another intentionally training in come from behind scenarios so that when the pressure mounts in the match they’re all prepared for it.

“Very rarely do I just throw just the varsity out on one side, because we want to compete, we want everybody to get better,” Zehm said. “So we do – a lot of times – even teams competing to a certain point value, or one side starts above the other side and having to work your way back.”

Conditioning is a factor for the team, often working on it mid-practice with the losing side of the drill having to condition as a motivating factor to improve on the court. In game, similar motivational techniques are used. According to Zehm the idea of avoiding further conditioning is a good motivator for the players, who respond to it positively.

“We used to run the mile every year and they hated it,” Zehm said. “So at one point I was like, ‘If we do not win this game, we are all going to run the mile tomorrow.'”

Zehm said while she wasn’t actually going to make her team run a mile after a loss, her players responded positively to the motivation and fed off of it really well.

The squad thrives on pressure. According to Zehm, they almost like to play from behind and the high intensity is fuel for the team. Currently the team chemistry comes naturally and the squad is cohesive and communicative, which has allowed for a bend-don’t-break mentality.

“We always have a team word every year, and our word this year is intention,” Zehm said. “So what’s your intention on the court or off the court? What’s your job? And then we always talk about just doing your job and doing it together in a positive way.”

The Mavericks aim to put up at least a .500 season this year with the intention of improving as the season goes on and pushing further into the postseason.