SPORTS

Redskins working on improving team chemistry

Cameron Teague Robinson
Reporter

COSHOCTON — This year’s Coshocton volleyball team is different than the one that finished 9-14 last year.

They are replacing five seniors and have senior Lauren Hire back from injury. But no matter who is on the court, coach Kayley Andrews has the same expectation.

“I expect them to want to compete and have that same desire to win,” she said.

She didn’t see that in last Saturday’s loss to West Muskingum she said.

“I’m hoping that changes,” she said. “I was a little disappointed in our performance against West M. We didn’t play very well together.”

In Monday’s practice the Redskins made adjustments and are hoping that improves their play together on the floor.

“I’m looking forward to seeing us pull together as a team,” senior Lexie Phillips said. “When I say come together, I mean on the court. Everybody has the same mindset, same goal and we all want to win.”

The Redskins are returning just four letter winners, including Hire and Phillips. But, that youth doesn’t come without talent Hire said.

“We have a really good group of athletes,” she said. “The skill level is different, because some of us play all year round and some of us just play school ball. But it’s a good different, because we get different point of views.”

Replacing the experienced players lost to graduation are three sophomores Maddy Miller, Kennedy Haley and Abby Zimomra.

“Our sophomores bring a lot to the table,” Andrews said. “They are young, so we hope that their skill level will improve as the season goes on.”

Miller is expecting a lot she said.

“We have a good group of girls, it’s just coming together as a team,” she said. “We will come together.”

The glue that keeps them together is Hire and Phillips she said.

“They are like mini coaches on the floor,” she added. “They help us out on the floor any way they can. They are the leaders of the team.”

On Wednesday, it will be Hire and Phillips who step on the floor leading the Redskins against one of the East Central Ohio League powers — Meadowbrook.

And, while winning is always the goal for Andrews and the Redskins, she is using Wednesday as a gauge game.

“I will be looking at the difference in our play on Saturday to our play Wednesday,” she said. “I will be looking at the team chemistry again, how much we are competing and who wants to be out there on the floor.”

Meadowbrook has been one the best teams in the ECOL in previous years and this year is no different, but the young Redskins aren’t backing down Andrews said.

“I try and encourage (the players) all the time that this is early in the season and Meadowbrook may have some glitches to work out themselves,” she said. “You can’t count yourselves out before you step on the court.”

“I think it’s going to be a good game. I think it just depends on if we show up or not, which I think we will. I think we are ready for them,” Hire said.

cteaguerob@gannett.com

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Twitter: @cj_teague