NORTHWEST COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TEAM OPENS THEIR SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT THE 2019 VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC IN CASPER. TAKING OVER AT THE HELM OF THE TRAPPERS IS FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH VALERIE RIVERA. COACH RIVERA TAKES OVER A YOUNG TEAM, FULL OF FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES. I CAUGHT UP WITH COACH RIVERA AND ASKED HER ABOUT HER EARLY SEASON EXPECTATIONS.
“I WANT THEM TO GIVE ME 100 PERCENT. NO MATTER THE PLAY, NO MATTER THE SITUATION I WANT IT TO BE 100 PERCENT. I WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT THEY LEFT EVERYTHING ON THE COURT. I DON’T WANT THEM TO FEEL ‘WELL I COULD’VE DONE THIS, I COULD’VE DONE THAT’ NO. LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FLOOR.”
TRYING TO GUIDE A YOUNG TEAM THROUGH A LONG SEASON WITH A NEW COACH CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES SO COACH RIVERA IS PREACHING A ONE DAY AT A TIME MINDSET.
“I JUST KIND OF EMPHASIZE TO THEM THAT WE HAVE TO GET ONE PERCENT BETTER. EVERY SINGLE DAY, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS WE HAVE TO GET ONE PERCENT BETTER. IF EVERYONE CAN CONTRIBUTE ONE PERCENT THEN WE’RE GOING TO GET TO 100 RATHER QUICKLY.”
CAMARADERIE IS CRUCIAL IN ANY TEAM SPORT AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT FOR THE TRAPPERS WHO WILL HAVE TO BOND QUICKLY. COACH RIVERA OUTLINES HOW THIS TEAM IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD
“I THINK OUR X-FACTOR IS GOING TO BE COMMUNICATION. I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR JOB AND EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THEIR ROLE. IF WE DO NOT TALK OR COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE. I THINK TALKING IS GOING TO BE OUR GO TO THING.”
NORTHWEST COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TEAM GETS THEIR SEASON UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND. STAY TUNED TO THE BIG HORN RADIO NETWORK FOR RESULTS.
