Columbus girls varsity volleyball: unity, tough schedule

School: Columbus High School

Sport: Girls varsity volleyball

Coach: Kat Egle

Question: What are your overall expectations for the team this season, and what is the team’s primary goal?

Answer: We are very excited to play again this year! We have a strong schedule and a tough sectional since we were moved up to D4 this year. The team gets along so well and they have been working hard this off-season.

Q: Which returning players will be key leaders for the team, and what makes them stand out?

A: We have seven returning players from the state team. Four of them are seniors (Shelby Spata, Delia Trader, Alayna Egle and Chayse Blenker) and they have been leading the team this summer. They stand out because they have been going out of their way to make sure the underclassmen feel like part of the program.

Q: Are there any newcomers or underclassmen who have impressed you in the offseason and could make a significant impact?

A: We have great new players this year that are ready for the varsity level. We also have underclassmen that are strong players to lead our JV and JV2 teams.

Q: What do you consider to be the team’s greatest strength this year?

A: Team unity and a tough schedule.

Q: Looking at your schedule, what are you most anticipating and why?

A: We have a tough sectional this year. We will be going against schools almost twice our size. We will need to work on playing at a high level all season.

Q: What message would you like to share with the community and fans as they prepare to support the team this season?

A: We are a great group to watch because the team has fun playing a sport they love. Fans will see that we play with joy and respect for one another. We will always be looking for ways to improve our game.