(Atlantic) Atlantic volleyball will get fall practice underway next week. The Trojans bring back five starters from a team that won six matches in 2019.
Trojan coach Michelle Blake says they are adapting to an increased roster size. “It’s definitely going to be a little bit different this year. Numbers are a lot bigger so that changes some of the things we’ll do in practice. Last we had 22 girls from freshman through seniors. This year we have a really big incoming freshman class and still have quite a few sophomores that are coming back. We are looking at between 30 and 35 kids so that changes practice plans and how we run things and how we do different drills just because of the number of kids we have.”
Expectations are high. “I have been telling the girls the last two weeks that I’m not going to make my expectations unrealistic, but I have really high expectations because I know what each of these girls can do individually. That makes me just that much more excited about what they can do together as a team.”
In addition to five starters there are a couple of others returning with varsity experience and a strong group of sophomores. “I know this senior group has really, really high hopes for this year. They want to finish in the middle of the conference. I absolutely believe they can do it. It’s just going to be a matter of them working together and believing they can.”
Coach Blake lists Kuemper Catholic, Lewis Central, and Red Oak among the perennial conference powers while also noting Glenwood has nearly everyone returning in their lineup. Atlantic’s team activities have been delayed until August 19th.
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