Bulldogs volleyball look to be consistent and aggressive this year

Heading into the upcoming season Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs volleyball head coach Sarah Miller said that one thing the team is looking for this year is to be more consistent especially on offense. Last year the Bulldogs went 11-23 and the Bulldogs had their first game on Aug. 20. at Belmond-Klemme. 

“We are really working on being competitive and powerful,” Miller said. “And understanding that we each play a role on the team and putting all those pieces together to continue to build the success of our program.”

Miller said the team is also working on focusing on one game at a time and winning that game at that moment. The Bulldogs did not lose a lot of seniors from last year and Miller said the atmosphere around the team is positive.

“Going to the gym everyday that we have had practices has been an amazing atmosphere,” Miller said. “This group of girls are kind, they are hard workers, they are overachievers, and they are hungry for success. These nine seniors we have this year are really leading that front. They are really bringing up the underclassmen with them and showing them that when we get to that gym we have high expectations of each other and they do it in a positive manner and they care for each other and that is amazing to see.”

During the first couple of games this year, Miller said she would like to see the team be aggressive and consistent.

“Especially in  our serve receive, we want to dominate in our serve receive and we don’t want the other team to be getting points off that,” Miller said. “We want to set up in our offense that we have been working hard in and making sure our defense is doing their job and making sure our middles are staying back and really having that whole area covered.”

With having a senior heavy team, Miller said that having that many seniors is fantastic.

“I think it shows who these young women are and what they are trying to accomplish together as a unit,” Miller said. “They are all very different and unique in their personalities and that is amazing to see because they really compliment each other based off of their different personalities. They want each other to succeed and they are each other biggest fans and are pushing each other to be the best version of themselves everyday.”

An area of strength for the Bulldogs this year is how strong their hitters are according to Miller.

“That we might not have had in the past as far as some in all areas,” Miller said. “But at the same time I can say that about our passers, I think we have some fantastic passers, and I think we have some fantastic setters. We are bringing back three girls that were breaking records last year so I think it is amazing to see their teammates are cheering them on and that they want them to do even more. And also that those teammates have the capacity and the skill level to start breaking records too and I think it is going to be a fantastic atmosphere this year.”

The Bulldogs next game is on the road at West Fork on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.