OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS THE CODY FILLIES VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAVE BEEN ROAD WARRIORS. THEY HAVE NOT PLAYED A HOME GAME SINCE SEPTEMBER 14TH BUT ARE A RESPECTIVE 14-3 ON THE SEASON, GOING 2-2 ON THE ROAD IN THAT SPAN. THE FILLIES HAVE ONE LAST GAME ON THE ROAD, TONIGHT, BEFORE RETURNING HOME ON SATURDAY. I CAUGHT UP WITH HEAD COACH OF THE FILLIES STEPHANIE BIRCH AND ASKED HER ABOUT THE TEAMS MINDSET AFTER A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM HOME.
“THEY’RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO FINISH THAT AND BE DONE. IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE NOT BEEN HOME FOREVER, BASICALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AT BORDER WARS. SO THEY EXPECT TO GO TO CASPER AND TO PLAY HARD, GIVE OURSELVES A CHANCE, COMPETE AND DO OUR VERY BEST EFFORT. THEN HAVE A GOOD HOME STANCE AND PROTECT OUR HOME COURT. ESPECIALLY IN THIS HEART OF OUR SEASON.”
THE FILLIES HAVE ONLY PLAYED ONE CONFERENCE OPPONENT THUS FAR AND NOW GET SET FOR THE BULK OF LEAGUE PLAY STARTING TONIGHT AGAINST KELLY WALSH. COACH BIRCH SAYS THE FILLIES BLOCKING HAS BEEN THE WEAKEST PART OF THEIR GAME AND TALKS ABOUT HOW THE TEAM IS LOOKING TO IMPROVE.
“SO SCHEMATICALLY WE’RE WORKING ON BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE OTHER TEAM’S STRONGEST HITTER AND BE ABLE TO SET UP A BETTER BLOCK SO WE CAN MOVE OUR DEFENSE AROUND IT. SO IF WE DON’T BLOCK IT WE’RE DIGGING IT AND FOR THE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO BE WATCHING THE RIGHT THINGS TO PUT THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO DO THAT IS A FOCUS EVERY DAY.”
ANOTHER FOCAL POINT FOR THIS TEAM IS ADDING A QUICKER TEMPO TO THE OFFENSE AND ACCORDING TO COACH BIRCH A COUPLE OF KEY PLAYERS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THEIR ROLES FOR CODY TO REACH THEIR GOALS.
“YOU KNOW WHAT AUTUMN WILSON OUR SOPHOMORE OUTSIDE HITTER HAS DONE MORE THAN I EVER COULD’VE ASKED HER TOO. SHE HAS FILLED THAT ROLE AMAZINGLY AND FOR US TO HAVE SUCCESS SHE NEEDS TO JUST KEEP DOING WHAT SHE’S DOING. SO FOR SURE HER. IN ORDER TO RUN THAT FASTER OFFENSE GRACE SHAFFER MY SETTER NEEDS TO BE THAT X-FACTOR IN THAT AREA. BUT OVERALL AUTUMN WILSON HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB FOR US.”
THE CODY FILLIES VOLLEYBALL TEAM WILL CONCLUDE THEIR ROAD SWING TONIGHT WITH A TRIP TO CASPER TO TAKE ON KELLY WALSH AT 6PM. ON SATURDAY THEY HOST ROCK SPRINGS INSIDE THE CODY GYMNASIUM FOR THEIR FIRST HOME MATCH SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER AND THAT CONTEST WILL BEGIN AT 3 IN THE AFTERNOON.
